Optical connector

ABSTRACT

An optical connector includes a first attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide. A light coupling unit is disposed and configured to move translationally and not rotationally within the housing of the connector. The light coupling unit includes a second attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide received and permanently attached at the first attachment area. The light coupling unit also includes light redirecting surface. The light redirecting surface is configured such that when an optical waveguide is received and permanently attached at the first and second attachment areas, the light redirecting surface receives and redirects light from the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide limits, but does not prevent, a movement of the light coupling unit within the housing.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The provided disclosure relates to optical connectors for connectingsets of optical waveguides such as optical fiber ribbons.

BACKGROUND

Optical fiber connectors can be used to connect optical fibers in avariety of applications including: telecommunications networks, localarea networks, data center links, and for internal links in highperformance computers. These connectors can be grouped into single fiberand multiple fiber designs and also grouped by the type of contact.Common contact methods include: physical contact wherein the matingfiber tips are polished to a smooth finish and pressed together; indexmatched, wherein a compliant material with an index of refraction thatis matched to the core of the fiber fills a small gap between the matedfibers' tips; and air gap connectors, wherein the light passes through asmall air gap between the two fiber tips. With each of these contactmethods a small bit of dust on the tips of the mated fibers can greatlyincrease the light loss.

Another type of optical connector is referred to as an expanded beamconnector. This type of connector allows the light beam in the sourceconnector to exit the fiber core and diverge within the connector for ashort distance before the light is collimated to form a beam with adiameter substantially greater than the core. In the receiving connectorthe beam is then focused back to its original diameter on the tip of thereceiving fiber. This type of connector is less sensitive to dust andother forms of contamination that may be present in the region where thebeam is expanded to the larger diameter.

Backplane optical connectors will become essential components ofhigh-performance computers, data centers, and telecom switching systemsin the near future, as line rates of data transmission migrate from thecurrent 10 Gb/sec/line to 25 Gb/sec/line in the next few years. It wouldbe advantageous to provide expanded beam connectors that are lower costand higher performance alternatives to existing optical and copperconnections that are currently being used in the 10 Gb/secinterconnects.

SUMMARY

The disclosure relates to optical connectors. Some embodiments involve aconnector that includes a first attachment area for receiving andpermanently attaching to an optical waveguide. A light coupling unit isdisposed and configured to move translationally and not rotationallywithin the housing of the connector. The light coupling unit includes asecond attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to anoptical waveguide received and permanently attached at the firstattachment area. The light redirecting surface of the light couplingunit is configured such that when an optical waveguide is received andpermanently attached at the first and second attachment areas, the lightredirecting surface receives and redirects light from the opticalwaveguide. The optical waveguide limits, but does not prevent, amovement of the light coupling unit within the housing.

Some embodiments relate to a connector the includes a first attachmentarea for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide andconfigured to move within the housing and a light coupling unit disposedand configured to move within the housing. The light coupling unitcomprises a second attachment area for receiving and permanentlyattaching to an optical waveguide received and permanently attached atthe first attachment area. The light coupling unit also includes a lightredirecting surface which is configured such that when an opticalwaveguide is received and permanently attached at the first and secondattachment areas, the light redirecting surface receives and redirectslight from the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide limits, but doesnot prevent, a movement of the light coupling unit within the housing.

In some embodiments, a connector comprises a first attachment area forreceiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide and a secondattachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an opticalwaveguide received and permanently attached at the first attachmentarea. A flexible carrier is disposed within the housing of the connectorbetween the first and second attachment areas for supporting andadhering to an optical waveguide received and permanently attached atthe first and second attachment areas. A first end of the flexiblecarrier is attached to the first attachment area and a second end of thecarrier is attached to the second attachment area.

The above summary is not intended to describe each disclosed embodimentor every implementation of the present disclosure. The figures and thedetailed description below more particularly exemplify illustrativeembodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a side view of an optical connector prior to matingaccording to some embodiments;

FIG. 1B shows the mating face of the optical connector of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C shows the connector of FIG. 1A after mating;

FIG. 2A illustrates a light coupling unit in accordance with embodimentsdescribed herein, with a fiber cable attached;

FIG. 2B shows portions of the light coupling unit of FIG. 2A in moredetail;

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate the operation of alignment features of a lightcoupling unit;

FIG. 4 depicts alignment features having a tapered profile in accordancewith some embodiments;

FIGS. 5A and 5B show an unmated and mated optical connector,respectively, that includes a moveable first attachment area inaccordance with embodiments disclosed herein;

FIGS. 6A and 6B show an unmated and mated optical connector,respectively, that includes a flexible carrier according to someembodiments;

FIGS. 7A and 7B show side views of an unbent and bent flexible carrier,respectively, according to some embodiments;

FIGS. 7C and 7D show cross sectional views of the unbent and bentflexible carrier, respectively, of FIGS. 7A and 7B;

FIGS. 8-11 show cross sectional views of various flexible carrierconfigurations.

FIGS. 12A and 12B show side views of an unbent and bent flexiblecarrier, respectively, in accordance with some embodiments;

FIGS. 12C and 12D show cross sectional views of the unbent and bentflexible carrier, respectively, illustrated in FIGS. 12A and 12B;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an opticalferrule according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an opticalferrule according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating an example of applying of anoptical ferrule according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 16 is a view in the direction of arrow IV in FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is a cross-section view cut along line V-V in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a view in the direction of arrow VI in FIG. 13;

FIG. 19A is a diagram for describing the method of mating the opticalferrule according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 19B is a diagram for describing the method of mating the opticalferrule according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating a mated condition of theoptical ferrule of an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view illustrating a mated condition of theoptical connector of an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 22A is a perspective view of one of the optical connectors of FIG.21;

FIG. 22B is a perspective view of one of the optical connectors of FIG.21;

FIG. 23A is a perspective view of an optical fiber unit that isassembled into the optical connector of FIG. 22A;

FIG. 23B is a perspective view of an optical fiber unit assembled to theoptical connector of FIG. 22A;

FIG. 24 is a cross-section view along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 22B;

FIG. 25A is a perspective view of an optical fiber assembly held in acase of the connector of FIG. 22A;

FIG. 25B is a perspective view of an optical fiber assembly held in acase of the connector of FIG. 22A.

FIG. 26 is a view in the direction of arrow XV in FIG. 25A;

FIG. 27A is a perspective view where the right side body has beenomitted from the optical fiber assembly of FIG. 25A;

FIG. 27B is a perspective view where the right side body has beenomitted from the optical fiber assembly of FIG. 25B;

FIG. 28 is a view in the direction of arrow XVII in FIG. 27A;

FIG. 29A is a perspective view of another optical connector of FIG. 21;

FIG. 29B is a perspective view of another optical connector of FIG. 21;

FIG. 30A is a perspective view of an optical fiber unit assembled intothe optical connector of FIG. 29A;

FIG. 30B is a perspective view of the optical fiber unit incorporatedinto the optical connector of FIG. 29A;

FIG. 31 is a view in the direction of arrow XX of FIG. 30B;

FIG. 32A is a perspective view where the left side body has been omittedfrom the optical fiber assembly of FIG. 30A;

FIG. 32B is a perspective view where the left side body has been omittedfrom the optical fiber assembly of FIG. 30B;

FIG. 33 is a cross-section view cut along line XXII-XXII of FIG. 29A.

FIG. 34 is a cross-section view showing the mated condition of theconnector according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 35 is a diagram schematically illustrating the function of theconnector according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 36 is a diagram schematically illustrating the function of theconnector according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of FIG. 35;

FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of FIG. 36;

FIG. 39 is a diagram illustrating another modified example of FIG. 36;and

FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating another modified example of FIG. 35.

The figures are not necessarily to scale. Like numbers used in thefigures refer to like components. However, it will be understood thatthe use of a number to refer to a component in a given figure is notintended to limit the component in another figure labeled with the samenumber.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings that form a part hereof and in which are shown by way ofillustration. It is to be understood that other embodiments arecontemplated and may be made without departing from the scope or spiritof the present disclosure. The following detailed description,therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense.

FIG. 1A shows a side view and FIG. 1B a view of the mating face 104 of aconnector 100 according to some embodiments. FIG. 1A shows a matingconnector 101 prior to mating with connector 100. FIG. 1C showsconnectors 100, 101 after mating.

The configuration and operation of the connectors 100, 101 is explainedprimarily with reference to connector 100 with the understanding thatmating connector 101 includes similar features. As shown in FIG. 1A-1C,in some embodiments, the connector 100 may include one or more firstattachment areas 110 configured for permanently attaching one or moreoptical waveguides 115. A light coupling unit 120 is disposed within thehousing 105 and is optically coupled to a waveguide 115. The opticalwaveguide 115 may be one optical waveguide of a plurality of waveguidearranged side by side in a multiple fiber ribbon cable, as shown in moredetail in FIGS. 2A-2C. The multiple fibers in a fiber cable can bend inunison and by the substantially the same amount when the connectorengages, rather than individually. The light coupling unit 120 isconfigured to move translationally, e.g., along the mating/unmatingdirection of the connector (as indicated by double headed arrow 199) butnot rotationally within the housing 105.

The light coupling unit 120 includes a second attachment area 121 forreceiving and permanently attaching to the optical waveguide 115. Thelight coupling unit 120 includes a light redirecting surface 122configured such that when the optical waveguide 115 is received andpermanently attached at the first 110 and second 121 attachment areas,the light redirecting surface 122 receives and redirects light from theoptical waveguide 115. The optical waveguide 115 limits, but does notprevent, movement of the light coupling unit 120 within the housing 105.In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1A the first attachment area 110is fixed within the housing. In other embodiment, see, e.g., FIGS. 5A,5B, 6A, 6B, the first attachment area is configured to move within thehousing.

As best seen in FIG. 1C, when the optical waveguide 115 is received andpermanently attached at the first 110 and second 121 attachment areas,mating of the light coupling unit 120 with a mating light coupling unit130 of the mating connector 101 causes a bend 135 in the opticalwaveguide 115 between the first 110 and second 121 attachment areas. Thebend 135 assists in preventing the light coupling unit 120 from unmatingfrom the mating light coupling unit 130. In some configurations, thebend exists when the connector is unmated and mating causes a furtherbend in the existing bend. For example, further bending of the opticalwaveguide 115 may occur when, during mating, the second attachment area121 moves within the connector housing 105 along the mating/unmatingaxis 199. After mating, the optical fiber 115 applies a spring force tothe light coupling unit 120 to maintain the light coupling unit 120 in amating position with respect to the mating light coupling unit 130.

In some embodiments, the housing 105 includes at least one guide 141configured to prevent the light coupling unit 120 from rotating, but notmoving translationally, within the housing 105. As shown in FIG. 1A, theguide 140 may be disposed adjacent to and facing at least one of a top120 a and a bottom 120 b major surface of the light coupling unit 120.In some implementations, the housing 105 comprises a pair of guides 141,142. One guide of the pair of guides 141, 142 is disposed on each sideof the light coupling unit 120. The pair of guides 141, 142 areconfigured to prevent the light coupling unit 120 from rotating, but notmoving translationally, within the housing 105. In some configurations,one guide 141 of the pair of guides is disposed adjacent to and facing atop major surface 120 a of the light coupling unit 120 and another guide142 of the pair of guides is disposed adjacent to and facing a bottommajor surface 120 b of the light coupling unit 120.

Some embodiments include a first registration feature 151 configured toengage with a compatible second mating registration feature 162 of amating connector 101. For example, the first registration feature 151may comprise an elongated protrusion and the compatible second matingfeature 162 may comprise an elongated channel. As illustrated in FIG.1A, the connector 100 can include a first registration feature 151 whichis an elongated protrusion and a second registration feature 152 whichis an elongated channel. The first and second registration features 151,152 of connector 100 are configured to mate with mating second and firstmating registration features 162, 161 of mating connector 101.

FIG. 2A is a more detailed view illustrating an example of a lightcoupling unit 220, with an array of waveguides (e.g. fiber cable)attached.

The second attachment area 221 may comprise plurality of V-grooves 214each groove being configured to accommodate a different opticalwaveguide 215 of a plurality of optical waveguides of a waveguideribbon. Each of the optical waveguides 215 being received andpermanently attached to at the first attachment area (not shown in FIG.2A), the optical waveguide 215 being bonded to the second attachmentarea 221 at the groove 214. As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2A, thesecond attachment area 221 can permanently attach to a plurality ofoptical waveguides received and permanently attached to at the firstattachment area. In some embodiments, the optical waveguide 215 isattached at the first attachment area (not shown in FIG. 2, but shown inFIG. 1), the second attachment area 221, or both, using an adhesive. Incases where the optical waveguides are optical fibers, the fiberattachment areas may consist of cylindrical holes into which the fibersare bonded. Also in cases where the waveguides are optical fibers, thepolymer buffer layer on the fiber may be bonded to an attachment areaadjacent to the area where the bare fiber is bonded, in order to enhancethe mechanical strength of the assembly.

Light coupling unit 220 is configured so as to be able to movetranslationally but not rotationally within housing 105 shown in FIG.1A. This facilitates proper alignment of light coupling unit 220 with amating coupler (typically a coupler with substantially identicalfeatures) as will be shown in subsequent drawings.

In some embodiments, the light coupling unit is a parallel expanded beamoptical coupler. The light directing surface 216 may be curved so thatit focuses incident light. The optical waveguide 215 has a first corediameter and the curvature of the light directing surface 216 isconfigured to change a divergence of light from the optical waveguide215 such that light from the optical waveguide exits the connector alongan exit direction different than a mating direction of the connector andhas a second diameter greater than the first core diameter. In someembodiments, the ratio of the second diameter to the first core diametercan be at least 2, at least 3.7, or even at least 5. In variousembodiments, the light directing surface 216 and optical waveguide 215may be operated in unidirectional mode or may be operated in a timemultiplexed bidirectional mode.

Light coupling unit 220 can also include mechanical mating tab 236(guide part) and interlocking mechanism 238. In some embodiments,mechanical mating tab 236 can have a tapering width along at least aportion of a length of the tab portion as shown in the illustrations.Mechanical mating tab 236 can extend within housing 105 (shown in FIG.1A) such that when mating with a mating connector, the connector movestoward the mating connector in a mating direction along the mating axis199.

FIG. 2B shows a portion of the light coupling unit 220 including thesecond attachment area 221 and light directing surface 216. FIG. 2Billustrates the attachment of several optical fibers 215 to lightcoupling unit 220. FIG. 2B, is a cut-away perspective view of the lightcoupling unit 220 including second attachment area 221, and lightdirecting surface 216. At the second attachment area 221, optical fibers215 are aligned in grooves 214, typically V-grooves, to which they arepermanently attached. As shown, light coupling unit 120 includes anarray of light directing surfaces 216, at least one for each opticalfiber 215 attached to light coupling unit 220. In variousconfigurations, the light directing surface 216 includes a prism or acurved surface.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show a light coupling unit 320 and a mating lightcoupling unit 340 before and after mating, respectively. FIG. 3C shows across sectional view of light coupling unit 320 through plane A-A′. Eachlight coupling unit 320, 340 includes a second attachment area 321, 341,e.g., comprising V-grooves 322 for aligning optical waveguides, and alight directing surface 335, 355. Each light coupling unit 320, 340includes a first alignment feature 370, 390, e.g., comprising amechanical tab (guide part), and a compatible second alignment feature360, 380, e.g. comprising a guide hole configured to receive the tab370, 390. During mating of the light coupling unit 320 with the matinglight coupling unit 340, the first alignment feature 370 of the lightingcoupling unit 320 is configured to engage with the second alignmentfeature 380 of the mating light coupling unit 340. The second alignmentfeature 360 of the light coupling unit 320 is configured to engage witha mating first alignment feature 390 of the mating light coupling unit340. After mating, the light directing surface 335 of light couplingunit 320 is aligned in mating position with the light directing surface355 of mating light coupling unit 340.

FIG. 4 illustrates light coupling units 420, 440 that include additionalalignment features. In the illustrated implementation, the guide hole460, 480 of each light coupling unit 420, 440 comprises a first end 460a, 480 a and a second end 460 b, 480 b.

During mating of the light coupling unit 420 with the mating lightcoupling unit 440, the first end 460 a of the guide hole 460 engageswith a tab 490 of the mating light coupling unit 440 before the secondend 460 b of the guide hole 460 engages with the mating tab 490 of themating light coupling unit 440. The first end 460 a of the guide hole460 includes a taper 460 c that causes the guide hole 460 to becomenarrower with distance from the first end 460 a towards the second end460 b for at least a portion of the length of the guide hole 460.Similarly, during mating of the light coupling unit 420 with the matinglight coupling unit 440, the first end 480 a of the guide hole 480engages with a tab 470 of the light coupling unit 420 before the secondend 480 b of the guide hole 480 engages with the mating tab 470. Thefirst end 480 a of the guide hole 480 includes a taper 480 c that causesthe guide hole 480 to become narrower with distance from the first end480 a towards the second end 480 b for at least a portion of the lengthof the guide hole 480.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate connectors 500, 501, each having a firstattachment area 510 that is moveable within the connector housing 505,506. FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate connectors 500, 501 during and aftermating, respectively. The configuration and operation of the connectors500, 501 is explained primarily with reference to connector 500 with theunderstanding that mating connector 501 includes similar features.Connector 500 includes a first attachment area 510 configured forreceiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide 515. Thefirst attachment area 510 is configured to move within the housing 505.A light coupling unit 520 is disposed and configured to move within thehousing 505. The light coupling unit 520 comprises a second attachmentarea 521 configured to receive and permanently attach to the opticalwaveguide 515 received and permanently attached at the first attachmentarea 510. The light coupling unit 520 includes a light redirectingsurface 522 configured such that when an optical waveguide 515 isreceived and permanently attached at the first and second attachmentareas 510, 521, the light redirecting surface 522 receives and redirectslight from the optical waveguide 515, and the optical waveguide 515limits, but does not prevent, movement of the light coupling unit 520within the housing 515. For example, the optical waveguide 515 limits,but does not prevent, the movement of the light coupling unit 520 withinthe housing primarily along a linear direction such as along theconnector mating/unmating axis indicated by arrow 599. In the absence ofany optical waveguide received and permanently attached at the first andsecond attachment areas 510, 521, the light coupling unit 520 isunrestrained to move freely along at least one direction, e.g., adirection along the mating/unmating axis. When attached to the opticalwaveguide 515, the light coupling unit 520 is stably supported withinthe housing 505. The stable support is due, at least in part, to theoptical waveguide 515 being received and permanently attached at thefirst and second attachment areas 510, 521.

In some embodiments, prior to mating, when the optical waveguide 515 isreceived and permanently attached at the first and second attachmentareas 510, 521, the optical waveguide 515 is substantially unbentbetween the first 510 and second 521 attachment areas. The lightcoupling unit 520 is configured to be so positioned and oriented withinthe housing 505 as to mate with a light coupling unit 540 of a matingconnector 501. As the connector 500 mates with the mating connector 501,the light coupling unit 520 is positioned and oriented for mating, atleast in part, by virtue of the optical waveguide 515 being received andpermanently attached at the first 510 and second 521 attachment areas.

As shown in FIG. 5B, when the optical waveguide 515 is received andpermanently attached at the first and second attachment areas 510, 521,mating of the light coupling unit 520 with a mating light coupling unit540 of a mating connector 505 causes a bend 516 in the optical waveguide515 between the first 510 and second 521 attachment areas. The bend 516applies spring force to the light coupling unit 520 which assists inpreventing the light coupling unit 520 from unmating from the matinglight coupling unit 540. In some configurations, the bend may be anS-shaped bend, for example. In some cases, when the optical waveguide515 is received and permanently attached at the first and secondattachment areas 510, 521, the optical waveguide 515 already has a bendbefore mating, and mating of the light coupling unit to a mating lightcoupling unit cases a further bend in the existing bend.

As indicated in FIG. 5B, when the optical waveguide 515 is received andpermanently attached at the first and second attachment areas 510, 521,mating of the light coupling unit 520 with the mating light couplingunit 540 of the mating connector 501 causes the first attachment area510 of connector 500 to move within the housing 505 along the directionindicated by arrow 590. The first attachment area 510 of connector 501moves in an opposite direction, along arrow 591. The movement of thefirst attachment area 510 causes a first bend 516 a and second bend 516b in the optical waveguide 515 and causes the light coupling unit 520 tomove within the housing 505. The first and second bends assists inpreventing the light coupling unit 520 from unmating from the matinglight coupling unit 540. In various embodiments, the first bend 516 a,the second bend 516 b, or both, may comprise a further bend in anexisting bend present before the connectors 500, 501 are mated. Asindicated by arrows 590 and 599, during mating, the first attachmentarea 510 moves in a direction 590 substantially perpendicular to aconnector mating direction 599 of the connector 500. The light couplingunit 520 moves substantially parallel to the connector mating direction599 and toward the first attachment area 510.

In the illustrated embodiment, the connector 500 includes first andsecond registration features 551, 552 configured to engage withcompatible mating registration features 561, 562 of mating connector501. As the connector 500 mates with a mating connector 501 along themating direction 599, the second registration feature 552 of theconnector 500 mates with the first mating registration feature 561 ofthe mating connector 501. The first mating registration feature 561 ofthe mating connector 501 causes the first attachment area 510 of theconnector 500 to move along arrow 590 within the housing 505 of theconnector 500.

For example, in some implementations, the registration feature 552 ofthe connector 500 defines an elongated channel and the registrationfeature 561 of the mating connector 501 comprises an elongatedprotrusion. As the connector 500 mates with the mating connector 501,the elongated protrusion 561 slides within the channel 552. Duringmating, the front end 561 a of the elongated protrusion 561 slides pastthe channel 552 and makes contact with the first attachment area 510.The contact between the elongated protrusion 561 and the firstattachment area 510 causes the first attachment area 510 to move withinthe housing 505 of the connector 500.

During mating of the connector 500 with mating connector 501, the firstattachment area 510 of connector 500 is configured to move in a firstdirection, along arrow 590, and the light coupling unit 520 isconfigured to move in a second direction, along mating axis 599, whichis different from the first direction 590. The first attachment area 510of connector 501 is configured to move in an opposite direction from thefirst direction, along arrow 591, and the light coupling unit 540 isconfigured to move in a second direction, along mating axis 599, whichis different direction 59. In some configurations, directions 590 and591 are substantially orthogonal to the mating axis 599.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the first attachment feature 510 can have acontact surface 510 a configured to cause movement of the firstattachment feature 510 during mating of the connector 500 to the matingconnector 501 as the registration feature 561 of the mating 501connector engages with the contact surface 510 a. For example, as shownin FIG. 5A, the contact surface 510 a can be a ramp. The firstattachment feature 510 can also include a stop feature 510 b configuredto limit movement of the registration feature 561 of the matingconnector 501.

A compressible element 550 may be disposed within the housing 505 thatapplies spring force that opposes the movement of the first attachmentarea 510 along direction 590. In some embodiments, the compressibleelement is a spring. In some embodiments, the compressible element 550is compressed or is further compressed by the movement of the firstattachment area. In some embodiments, the compressible element 550 isextended or extended further by the movement of the first attachmentarea. The housing 505 may include one or more features 511 that extendalong the first attachment area 510 along direction 590. The features511 guide the movement of the first attachment area 510 and/or stabilizethe first attachment area 510 within the housing 505.

In some embodiments, the housing 505 includes at least one guide 541arranged to prevent or at least limit the light coupling unit 540 fromrotating within the housing 505. The at least one guide 541 does notprevent the light coupling unit 540 from moving translationally, e.g.,along axis 599, within the housing 505. For example, the at least oneguide can be disposed adjacent to and facing at least one of a top andbottom major surface 520 a, 520 b of the light coupling unit 520.

According to some implementations, the housing 505 includes a pair ofguides 541, 542, one on each side of the light coupling unit 520. Oneguide 541 may be disposed adjacent to and facing a top major surface 520a of the light coupling unit 520, and the other guide 542 in the pair ofguides is disposed adjacent to and facing a bottom major surface 520 bof the light coupling unite 520. The pair of guides 541, 542 prevent orat least limit rotation of the light coupling unit 520 within thehousing 505 but do not substantially restrict the light coupling unit520 from moving translationally within the housing 505.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, some embodiments include a flexible carrier670 configured to adhere to and support the optical waveguide. FIGS. 6Aand 6B respectively show connector 600 during mating and after matingwith mating connector 601. In embodiments that include a flexiblecarrier, rotational movement of the light coupling unit may not berestricted such as by guides 541, 542 shown in FIG. 5A. The connector600 includes a first attachment area 610 configured to receive andpermanently attach to an optical waveguide 615 and a second attachmentarea 621 configured to receive and permanently attach to the opticalwaveguide 615 received and permanently attached at the first attachmentarea 610. A flexible carrier 670 is disposed within the housing 605between the first and second attachment areas 610, 621 for supportingand adhering to the optical waveguide 615. A first end 671 a of theflexible carrier 671 may be attached to the first attachment area 610and a second end 671 b of the flexible carrier 671 may be attached tothe second attachment area 621.

According to some aspects, when the connector 600 is unmated and theoptical waveguide 615 is received and permanently attached at the firstand second attachment areas 610, 621, the flexible carrier 670 and theoptical waveguide 615 are substantially unbent between the first andsecond attachment areas 610, 621. During mating, the flexible carrier670 bends, causing the optical waveguide 615 to also bend.

According to some aspects, when the connector 600 is unmated and theoptical waveguide 615 is received and permanently attached at the firstand second attachment areas 610, 621, the flexible carrier 670 and theoptical waveguide 615 are bent between the first and second attachmentareas 610, 621. During mating, the flexible carrier 670 bends further,causing the optical waveguide 615 to also bend further. The flexiblecarrier 670 is less flexible when unbent or when initially bent and ismore flexible when bent or bent further.

Connector 600 also includes a light coupling unit 620 disposed andconfigured to move within the housing 605. The light coupling unit 620comprises the second attachment area 621 for receiving and permanentlyattaching to the optical waveguide received and permanently attached atthe first attachment area 610. The light coupling unit also includes alight redirecting surface 622 configured such that when the opticalwaveguide 615 is received and permanently attached at the first andsecond attachment areas 610, 621, the light redirecting surface 622receives and redirects light from the optical waveguide 615. Theflexible carrier 670 and optical waveguide 615 limit, but do notprevent, movement of the light coupling unit 620 within the housing 605.

When connector 600 mates with mating connector 601, the flexible carrier670 is configured to bend or to bend further, which causes the opticalwaveguide 615 to bend or bend further. The bending or further bending ofthe optical waveguide 615 causes the light coupling unit 620 to rotatewithin the connector housing 605. Mating of the light coupling unit 620with a mating light coupling unit 640 of the mating connector 601 causesthe flexible carrier 670 and the optical waveguide 615 to bend or bendfurther between the first 610 and second 621 attachment areas. After themating, the flexible carrier 670 and the optical waveguide 615 applyspring force to the light coupling unit 620 that prevents the lightcoupling unit 620 from unmating from the mating light coupling unit 640.After the connector 600 mates with a mating connector 601, matingsurfaces of the light coupling unit and a mating light coupling unit aredisposed at an angle, θ, with respect to a mating axis 699 of theconnector 605.

In some embodiments, and as illustrated by FIGS. 6A and 6B, the firstattachment area 610 can be configured to move within the housing 605.When the optical waveguide 615 is received and permanently attached atthe first 610 and second 621 attachment areas, a mating of the lightcoupling unit 620 with the mating light coupling unit 640 of the matingconnector 601 is configured to cause: 1) the first attachment area 610to move within the housing 605; 2) the flexible carrier 670 to bend orbend further; 3) the optical waveguide 615 to bend or bend further; and4) the light coupling unit 620 to move at least rotationally within thehousing 605. After mating, a spring force is applied to the lightcoupling unit 620 by virtue of the bend in the flexible carrier 670 andthe bend in the optical waveguide 615. The spring force assists inpreventing the light coupling unit 620 from unmating from the matinglight coupling unit 640.

During mating, the first attachment area 610 moves in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the mating axis 699 of the connector 600.The first attachment area 610 is configured to move in a firstdirection, e.g., as indicated by arrow 690 in FIG. 6B, and the secondattachment area 621 moves in a different direction which may beorthogonal to the direction of movement of the first attachment area610.

As previously discussed in conjunction with FIGS. 5A and 5B, theconnector may comprise first and second registration features 651, 652that are compatible with first and second mating registration features661, 662 of the mating connector 601. The first mating registrationfeature 661 of the mating connector 601 can engage with a contactsurface 610 a of the first attachment area 610. Engagement between thefirst mating registration feature 661 and the contact surface 610 aapplies a force to the first attachment area 610, causing the firstattachment area 610 to move within the housing 605 along the direction590. In some configurations, the first registration features 651, 661 ofthe connectors 600, 601 are or include elongated protrusions and thesecond registration features 652, 662 are or include elongated channels.As the connector 600 mates with the mating connector 601, the elongatedprotrusion 661 of the mating connector 601 slides within the elongatedchannel 652 of the connector 600. A front end 661 a of the elongatedprotrusion 661 slides past the channel 652 and makes contact with thecontact area 610 a of the first attachment area 610. For example, thecontact surface 610 a may be or include a ramp. The first attachmentfeature 610 includes a stop feature 610 b configured to limit movementof the mating registration feature 661 of the mating connector 601.

According to some aspects, the connector 600 may include at least onecompressible element 650 arranged so that movement of the firstattachment area 610 causes the compressible element 650 to apply springforce in a direction opposing a direction of movement 690 of the firstattachment area 610. For example, the compressible element 650 caninclude a spring that is compressed or extended by movement of the firstattachment area 610. The housing can include a guide 611 that extendsalong the first attachment region 610 configured to guide the movementof the first attachment region along direction 690.

FIGS. 7A-7D illustrate additional details of a flexible carrierconfigured for controlling the bend force as a function of the degree ofbending in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 7A shows a side viewand FIG. 7C shows an end lateral cross sectional view of an unbentflexible carrier 700. FIGS. 7B and 7D show side and lateral crosssectional views, respectively, of the flexible carrier 700 after it isbent.

The flexible carrier 700 includes a flexible first portion 710 forsupporting and adhering to an optical waveguide (not shown in FIGS.7A-7D) and a flexible second portion 720 attached to the flexible firstportion 710 at one or more discrete spaced apart attachment locations730. One or more gaps 731 may be defined between the one or morediscrete spaced apart attachment locations 730 and the flexible first710 and second 720 portions. In some configurations, the least oneattachment location 730 extends along substantially an entire length ofthe flexible carrier 700.

When bent along a length of the flexible carrier 700, as shown in FIGS.7C and 7D, the flexible first portion 710 is more flexible than theflexible second portion 720. The first and/or second portions may be orcomprise one or more of spring steel, other metal alloy springs,thermoplastic polymers, thermoset polymers, and polymer-inorganiccomposites, for example.

As the flexible carrier 700 is bent along a length of the flexiblecarrier 700, the flexible second portion 720 may collapse onto theflexible first portion 710. As shown in FIG. 7C, the flexible firstportion 710 has a first lateral cross-sectional profile and the flexiblesecond portion 720 has a different second lateral cross-sectionalprofile. As the flexible second portion 720 collapses onto the flexiblefirst portion 710, the lateral cross-sectional profile of the flexiblesecond portion 720 changes from the second lateral cross-sectionalprofile to the first lateral cross-sectional profile. For example, thesecond lateral cross-sectional profile may be semicircular as shown inFIG. 7C, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 or angled as shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 11, andFIG. 12.

For example, as best seen in FIG. 7C, when unbent, the flexible firstportion 710 has a substantially planar lateral cross-sectional profileand the flexible second portion 720 has a substantially non-planarlateral cross-sectional profile. As the flexible carrier 700 is bentalong a length of the flexible carrier 700, a lateral cross-sectionalprofile of the flexible second portion 720 changes from a substantiallynon-planar profile (as shown in FIG. 7C) to a substantially planarprofile (as shown in FIG. 7D. The flexible second portion 720 can beless flexible when having a substantially non-planar lateralcross-sectional profile and more flexible when having a substantiallyplanar lateral cross-sectional profile.

For some configurations, the flexible second portion 720 is attached tothe flexible first portion 710 at an attachment location 730. As theflexible second portion 720 collapses onto the flexible first portion710, the flexible second portion 720 rotates about the attachmentlocation 730. The direction of rotation is indicated by arrows 798 and799 in FIG. 7C.

FIGS. 8 through 11 show cross sectional profiles of flexible carriers800, 900, 1000, 1100 in accordance with various implementations. Each ofthe flexible carriers 800, 900, 1000, 1100 include a flexible secondportion 820, 920, 1020, 1120 attached to a flexible first portion 810,910, 1010, 1110 for supporting and adhering to an optical waveguide. Foreach of the flexible carriers 800, 900, 1100, when unbent, a majority offlexible first portion 810, 910, 1010 1110 has a substantially planarlateral cross-sectional profile and a majority of flexible secondportion 810, 910, 1010, 1110 has a substantially non-planar lateralcross-sectional profile. As the flexible carrier 800, 900, 1000, 1100 isbent along a length of the flexible carrier 800, 900, 1000, 1100, alateral cross-sectional profile of the flexible second portion 812, 920,1020, 1120 changes from a substantially non-planar profile (as shown inFIG. 7C) to a substantially planar profile (as shown in FIG. 7D. Theflexible second portion 820, 920, 1020, 1120 can be less flexible whenhaving a substantially non-planar lateral cross-sectional profile andmore flexible when having a substantially planar lateral cross-sectionalprofile. After bending, each of the flexible first and second portionshas a substantially planar cross-sectional profile.

In some embodiments, as illustrated by FIG. 12, a flexible carrier 1200includes a flexible first portion 1210 for supporting and adhering to anoptical waveguide and a flexible bottom portion 1220. The flexiblecarrier 1200 is configured so that as the flexible carrier 1200 is bentalong a length of the flexible carrier 1210, the flexible first 1210 andsecond 1220 portions slide with respect to each other along the lengthof the flexible carrier 1200.

FIGS. 12A-12D illustrate additional details of a flexible carrier inaccordance with some embodiments. FIG. 12A shows a side view and FIG.12C shows an end lateral cross sectional view of an unbent flexiblecarrier 1200. FIGS. 12B and 12D show side and lateral cross sectionalviews, respectively, of the flexible carrier 1200 after it is bent. Asshown in FIGS. 12A-12D, the flexible top portion 1210 and the flexiblebottom portion 1220 include a knob 1221 (or rod) and socket 1211coupling with sufficient clearance between the ball and socket to allowthe flexible bottom portion 1220 to slip relative to the flexible topportion 1210 during the bending. In some configurations, the flexiblecarrier may include multiple ball/rod and socket couplings extendingalong the lengths of the first and second flexible portions 1210, 1220.

As the flexible carrier 1200 is bent along a length of the flexiblecarrier 1200, the flexible second portion 1220 collapses onto theflexible first portion 1210. As shown in FIG. 12C, when unbent, theflexible first portion 1210 has a first lateral cross-sectional profileand the flexible second portion 1220 has a different second lateralcross-sectional profile. As the flexible second portion 1220 collapsesonto the flexible first portion 1210 and slips along the flexible firstportion, the lateral cross-sectional profile of the flexible secondportion 1220 changes from the unbent lateral cross-sectional profileshown in FIG. 12C to the bent lateral cross-sectional profile as shownin FIG. 12D.

In addition to the ability of the flexible carrier to control the bendforce as a function of the degree of bending, the flexible carrier canprovide other functions. The optical fibers or waveguides discussedherein may include a core with cladding around the core, a buffercoating over the cladding, and a jacket around the coatings of multipleindividual fibers. The jacket binds the individual fibers into a fibercable, such as a fiber ribbon cable. The core and cladding may be glass,and the coating and jacket may be or comprise a polymeric material. Thecoating and jacket can contribute significantly to the force required tobend the fiber ribbon cable. Furthermore, if the waveguides extendbetween the first and second attachment areas are fibers with polymerbuffer or jacketing, the elastic properties of the waveguide may changeover time as the buffer and/or jacket become brittle due to aging,especially at high temperature. Additionally, if the fiber cable is heldin a pre-bent position for a long time, the coatings may “self-anneal,”gradually contributing less to the bending force of the fiber cable.Thus, the bending force of the fiber-buffer-jacket assembly may varyover time, causing variations in connector performance. This effect canbe reduced by the proper choice of the materials and design for theflexible carrier. For example, one or more of the flexible portions 710and 720 of the flexible carrier 700 shown in FIGS. 7A-7D can befabricated from a very stable material such as spring steel, whosebending force dominates that of the cable, thereby reducing variation ofthe total bending force (fiber cable+flexible carrier).

In one implementation, the first flexible portion 710 of the flexiblecarrier 700 shown in FIG. 7C may be made from a flat piece of springsteel, and the second flexible portion 720 from a curved piece of springsteel (much like a typical steel measuring tape). For a 12-fiber opticalribbon cable 1 cm long with buffer and jacket, the bending force isapproximately 6.5×10⁴ dynes/cm of end deflection. For the flexiblecarrier to dominate this force, the carrier should be designed to have adeflection force of around 6.5×10⁵ dynes/cm.

For some coating and/or jacket materials, pre-annealing the fiber ribboncables (with or without a flexible carrier) in a pre-bent configurationserves to decrease the changes that occur over time in the forcerequired for bending. In contrast, the glass core and cladding is muchmore stable with time and the force required for bending the glass coreand cladding may not change significantly over time. In some scenarios,pre-annealing the fiber cables serves to shift the force required tomaintain a bend in the fiber ribbon cable from being predominantlydependent on the coating and/or jacket, to being predominantly dependenton the waveguide core. Consequently, the force required to further bendthe cable is decreased and the spring force of the cable is controlledand is made more stable over time by the annealing. For example, in somescenarios, the fiber cable can be installed in the connector in apre-bent configuration, wherein the pre-bending is the same or about thesame as the bending that occurs when two connectors are mated. Beforeuse, the fiber cable is annealed at temperature in the pre-bentconfiguration. Annealing in the pre-bent configuration can decrease thespring force contribution due to the coating and jacket to less thanabout 50%, less than about 40%, or even less than about 30% of the totalspring force applied to the light coupling unit by the optical fibercable in when the connector is mated with a mating connector. Afterannealing, the glass core and cladding of the fiber can apply more thanabout 50%, more than about 75%, more than about 90% or even more thanabout 99% of the spring force applied to the light coupling unit by theoptical fiber cable when the connector is mated with a mating connector.Vibration and/or mechanical shock to the connector may cause vibrationand/or movement of the light coupling unit and the optical fiber cable(which are collectively referred to herein as fiber-ferrulecombination). One issue associated with the use of the force from thewaveguides or fibers to control the motion of light coupling unit is thepossibility of unwanted motion of the light coupling unit due tovibration or shock applied to the connector.

To reduce vibrations and/or to control the vibrational resonantfrequency of the fiber-ferrule combination, the flexible first portionor the flexible second portion of a flexible carrier can be or comprisea vibration dissipating material. In some implementations, the vibrationdissipating material can be selected to decrease the amplitude ofvibrations induced in the fiber-ferrule combination and/or to change theresonant frequency of the fiber-ferrule combination when compared to afiber-ferrule combination without the vibration dissipating material.

In one exemplary embodiment of the connector shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B,the optical waveguide 615 is a 12-fiber ribbon cable, whose lengthbetween the first and second attachment areas is 1 cm. With the lightcoupling unit 640 mounted on the end, the resonant vibration frequencyof the assembly is about 200 Hz. For some applications, connectorsexperience vibrations in the range of 20 Hz to 2000 Hz. Therefore,dissipating vibrational energy and avoiding resonance in this frequencyrange reduces the possibility of the build-up of a potentiallydestructive resonant vibrational amplitude. One approach to achievedissipation of vibrational energy is to fabricate the flexible carrierfrom a material that has a large visco-elastic loss peak near theresonant frequency and operating temperature. This can be implemented byfabricating the flexible carrier using a polymeric material with a glasstransition temperature, Tg, near the operating temperature (80 C in thecase of many dense communications systems). In the case of thefiber-ferrule combination having a flexible carrier as shown in FIGS.7A-7D, for example, at least a portion of either the flexible firstportion, 710, the flexible second portion, 720, or both, may befabricated of such a polymeric material. Examples of classes ofpolymeric materials suitable for this application include thermoplasticelastomers, block co-polymers, and composite materials.

In some cases, the fiber-ferrule combination including the flexiblecarrier having the vibration dissipating material may have a resonantfrequency greater than about 2,000 Hz. In some cases, the addition ofthe vibration dissipating material to a fiber-ferrule combination shiftsthe resonant frequency of the fiber-ferrule combination from less thanabout 2,000 Hz to a resonant frequency greater than about 2,000 Hz.

To render the connector resistant to shock, the fiber-ferrulecombination may be configured to resist rapid bending, but to stillconform easily for slow bending. Resistance to rapid bending andcompliance to slow bending can be achieved by fabricating the flexiblecarrier at least partly of a visco-elastic polymer material that has astrong viscous character to its deformation vs. stress characteristics.The deformation of the viscoelastic polymer is dependent on the rate ofdeformation which causes the viscoelastic material to become stifferwhen subjected to a sheer force, for example. Again, the polymer shouldbe used at a temperature near its Tg to achieve sufficient visco-elasticeffect. Examples of classes of materials that can be suitable for thisapplication include thermoplastics such as urethanes, olefins,acrylates, and ring-opening metathesis polymers. A specific example of amaterial exhibiting this kind of behavior is DiARY MM3520 (SMPTechnologies, Tokyo, Japan), which is a commercially-availablethermoplastic polyurethane. At an ambient temperature of 29 C and astress rate of 15 N/min, the measured modulus of the sample is 2.5 timeshigher than the modulus at a stress rate of 0.5 N/min. In a shockresistant version of the connector, a flexible carrier is used, such asthe flexible carrier illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7D, wherein at least aportion of either the flexible first portion, 710, or the flexiblesecond portion, 720, of the flexible carrier, or both, may be fabricatedof such a polymeric material.

For the connector of FIGS. 6A and 6B, for the case where the waveguideconsists of a 12-fiber cable with buffer and jacket, the force appliednormal to the fiber axis at the fiber end to cause the end of a 1 cmlong piece of cable to deflect by 1 mm is 4.9×10³ dynes. Thiscorresponds to a bending moment of 4.9×10³ dyne cm.

In some embodiments, an attached flexible carrier can have a significanteffect on the bending of the structure. In these embodiments, thebending force associated with the carrier is comparable to, or greaterthan, that for the cable. In order for the carrier to have no effect onthe bending, then the bending force contributed by the flexible carrierwould be small compared to that contributed by the fiber cable.

In some embodiments, the flexible carrier contributes to some functionof the flexible carrier (e.g. damping or shock suppression), but doesnot significantly affect the bending force. In these embodiments, thebending force of the flexible carrier (that is, the addition to thebending force of the fiber cable) would be significantly less than thatof the cable.

In some embodiments, the flexible carrier is used to significantlystiffen the fiber cable until a certain degree of bending isaccomplished. In these embodiment, the bending force required toinitially bend the cable and carrier assembly should be significantlylarger than to bend the cable alone, and once the cable and carrierassembly is bent past a specified deflection, the force should becomparable to that for the cable alone. In the case of the 1 cm lengthof 12-fiber cable described above, this functionality can be achieved byhaving the flexible first portion of the flexible carrier have a verylow bending force, <<4.9×10³ dynes per 1 mm deflection, and the flexiblesecond portion have a bending force of >>4.9×10³ dynes per 1 mmdeflection for small deflections less than a threshold value of thedeflection, then 4.9×10³ dynes per 1 mm deflection, or less, fordeflections larger than the threshold deflection, e.g. 1 mm.

FIGS. 13 through 40 provide additional illustrations of opticalconnectors and components thereof in accordance with variousembodiments. An optical ferrule (also referred to herein as a lightcoupling unit) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure isdescribed below while referring to FIG. 13 through FIG. 20. FIGS. 13 and14 are perspective views illustrating a configuration of an opticalferrule 1301 according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and FIG. 15is a perspective view illustrating an example of using the opticalferrule 1301. Note that FIG. 15 illustrates a mated state of a pair ofoptical ferrules 1301 (1301A and 1301B). The pair of optical ferrules1301A and 1301B have the same shape, and the optical ferrule 1301 is amale-female unit (hermaphroditic) in the present embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, the end parts of a plurality of opticalfibers 1302 each exposed from a fiber ribbon 1303 (which is a ribboncable including a plurality of optical waveguides) are fixed to the pairof optical ferrules 1301A and 1301B, and the tip parts of the pluralityof optical fibers 1302 (also referred to herein as optical waveguides)are aligned and connected to each other by the pair of optical ferrules1301A and 1301B. Thereby, light is transmitted in the direction of arrowA of FIG. 15 through the first ferrule 1301A on the incoming light sideand the second ferrule 1301B on the outgoing light side. Note thatbelow, the front-back direction (length direction), the left-rightdirection (width direction), and the vertical direction (thicknessdirection) are defined as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, and theconfiguration of each part is described in accordance with thesedefinitions as a matter of convenience. The front-back direction is thedirection in which the optical fiber 1302 extends, and the left-rightdirection is the direction in which the plurality of optical fibers 1302are arranged in parallel.

The optical fiber 1302 has a core and cladding, and assumes acylindrical shape with a predetermined outer diameter (for example, 125μm). An ultraviolet curing resin (UV resin) or the like is coated on thecircumference of the optical fiber 1302, and thus a fiber wire 1302 awith a predetermined outer diameter (for example, 250 μm) is configured.The fiber ribbon 1303 is formed by aligning the plurality of opticalfiber wires 1302 a and then coating the entire circumference thereofwith UV resin or the like, and in FIG. 15, the fiber ribbon 1303 a hasfour optical fiber wires 1302 arranged in four rows in the widthdirection. Note that the assembly of the optical ferrule 1301 and thefiber ribbon 1303 including the optical fiber 1302 and optical fiberwires 1302 a is also referred to herein as an optical fiber unit 1400.

As illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, the optical ferrule 1301 has an upperwall 1310, a bottom wall 1311 on the opposite side of the upper wall1310, and a pair of side walls 1312 and 1313 on the left and right,facing each other and connecting the upper wall 1310 and the bottom wall1311, and the entire body assumes a symmetrical shape. A rectangularguide opening 1314 passing through in the front-back direction is formedon the inside of the upper wall 1310, bottom wall 1311, and side walls1312 and 1313. A guide part 1315 that extends forward from the front endpart of the guide opening 1314 is provided on the upper wall 1310, andan optical fiber coupler 1320 is provided on the upper surface of theupper wall 1310.

The optical fiber coupler 1320 has an alignment part 1321 that serves asa part of the second attachment area. The alignment part 1321 aligns andholds the optical fibers 1302. The optical fiber coupler 1320 alsoincludes a light direction converter 1322 which is also referred to as alight directing surface. FIG. 16 is a view in the direction of arrow IVin FIG. 13, and FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view cut along line V-V inFIG. 16. As illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17, an expanded part 1402 thatis wide in the left-right direction from the center portion in thefront-back direction to the front end part is provided on an uppersurface 1401 of the upper wall 1310. A first groove part 1403 of apredetermined depth is provided on the rear end part of the expandedpart 1402, and a second groove part 1404 that is deeper than the firstgroove part 1403 is provided in front of the first groove part 1403. Thelight direction converter 1322 is provided in front of the second groovepart 1404.

V grooves 1405 in the same quantity as the optical fibers 1302 areformed in the left-right direction at equal intervals on the bottomsurface of the first groove part 1403. The depth of the V grooves 1405is shallower than the depth of the second groove part 1404. The Vgrooves 1405 function as the alignment part 1321, and the optical fibers1302 are positioned by the V grooves 1405. On the tip part of the fiberribbon 1303, the coating of the fiber ribbon 1303 and the coating of thefiber wires 1302 a are removed, and the optical fibers 1302 are exposed.The exposed optical fibers 1302 are placed in the V grooves 1404 in astate where the front end part thereof is in contact with the rear endsurface 1521 of the light direction converter 1322. In this state,adhesive is filled around the circumference of the optical fibers 1302,and the optical fibers 1302 are fixed on the expanded part 1402 by theadhesive. In the state where the optical fibers 1303 are placed andfixed, the optical fibers 1302 are positioned lower than the uppersurface 1402 a of both left and right end parts of the expanded part1402. Therefore, the maximum height of the optical fiber unit 1400 thatattaches the optical fibers 1302 to the optical ferrule 1301 isregulated by the expanded part 1402.

A rear end surface 1521 of the light direction converter 1322 is avertical surface that extends in the vertical and left-right directions,and forms an entrance surface that receives incoming light from theoptical fiber 1302 arranged by aligning with the V grooves 1405, inother words, the incoming light in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 17.A slanted surface 1522 that is slanted at a predetermined angle (forexample, 45 degrees) toward the front is provided on the front end partof the light direction converter 1322, and the slanted surface 1522receives light from the entrance surface 1521 and forms a lightdirection converting surface that totally reflects the received lightdownward. A bottom surface 1523 of the light direction converter 1322below the light direction converting surface 1522 is a flat surface thatextends in the front-back and left-right directions. The bottom surface1523 receives light from the light direction converting surface 1522 andforms an exit surface that emits the received light from the opticalferrule 1301 downward (direction of arrow B).

Note that in FIG. 15, the optical ferrule 1301 was described as a firstoptical ferrule 1301A (refer to FIG. 15) on the incoming light side. Incontrast, with the second optical ferrule 1301B on the outgoing lightside, the direction of movement is opposite from the first opticalferrule 1301A, the bottom surface 1523 of the optical ferrule 1 becomesan entrance surface, and the vertical surface 1521 forms the exitsurface. The entrance surface and the exit surface are perpendicular tothe incidence direction and emission direction of the light.

FIG. 18 is a view in the direction of arrow VI in FIG. 13. Asillustrated in FIGS. 13, 14, and 18, a left and right pair of firstprotruding parts 1453 and 1454 protruding upward and downward extend inthe front-back direction on the upper surface 1451 and the bottomsurface 1452 of the guide part 1315. The first protruding part 1453 andfirst protruding part 1454 are positioned in the same respectivepositions in the left-right direction. As illustrated in FIG. 18, thefirst protruding parts 1453 and 1454 assume a cross-sectionalrectangular shape, and the upper surface of the first protruding part1453 and the bottom surface of the first protruding part 1454 are bothflat surfaces.

As illustrated in FIG. 17 the first protruding parts 1453 and 1454 areboth formed with a predetermined length rearward from the front end partof the guide part 1315. The front end parts of the first protrudingparts 1453 and 1454 are formed with a tapered shape, and a front endpart 1355 of the guide part 1315 that is more forward than the firstprotruding parts 1453 and 1454 is also formed with a tapered shape.Therefore, the length from the upper end surface of the first protrudingpart 1453 to the lower end surface of the first protruding part 1454, inother words, a maximum thickness t1 of the guide part 1315 is reducedtoward the front end surface of the guide part 1315.

As illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17, a left and right pair of secondprotruding parts 1407 and 1412 both protruding toward the guide opening1314 extend rearward on a bottom surface 1406 of the upper wall 1310 andan upper surface 1411 of the bottom wall 1311 rearward of the guide part1315. The second protruding part 1407 and the second protruding part1412 are positioned in the same respective positions in the left-rightdirection, and the positions in the left-right direction match with thefirst protruding parts 1453 and 1454. As illustrated in FIG. 16, thesecond protruding parts 1407 and 1412 assume a cross-sectionaltriangular shape, and the cross-sectional area is reduced toward theguide opening 1314.

As illustrated in FIG. 17 the second protruding part 1412 on the lowerside is formed from the front end surface to the rear end surface of thebottom wall 1311. On the other hand, the second protruding part 1407 onthe upper side is formed at a position more forward than the front endsurface of the bottom wall 1311 and more rearward than the exit surface1523 of the light direction converter 1322 to the rear end surface ofthe upper wall 1310, and the front end surface of the second protrudingpart 1407 is formed with a tapered shape. The length from the bottomsurface of the second protruding part 1407 to the upper surface of thesecond protruding part 1412, in other words, a minimum thickness t2 ofthe guide opening 1314 is approximately equal to the maximum thicknesst1 of the guide part 1315.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, a length w1 in the left-right direction ofthe guide part 1315 is approximately equal to a length w2 in theleft-right direction of the guide opening 1314. As illustrated in FIG.13, both left and right end surfaces of the front end part of the guide1315 are formed with a tapered shape, and the width of the guide 1315narrows toward the front. As illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 17, the frontend parts of the side walls 1312 and 1313 protrude more forward than thebottom wall 1311, and the left and right inner wall surfaces of theprotruding parts 1421 and 1431 are formed with a tapered shape.Therefore, the length of the interval between the left and right innerwall surfaces of the protruding parts 1421 and 1431 that connect to theguide opening 1314 increases toward the front. The front end surfaces ofthe side walls 1312 and 1313 configure vertical surfaces 1422 and 1432that extend in the vertical and left-right directions.

The aforementioned optical ferrule 1301 can use resin having lighttransmissivity as a component and is integrally configured by resinmolding. In other words, the optical ferrule 1301 may be configured by asingle part. Therefore, the number of parts and cost can be reduced.

The mating method of the pair of optical ferrules 1301A and 1301B willbe described. FIG. 19A and FIG. 19B are a diagrams for describing themating method of the optical ferrules 1301A and 1301B. Note that theoptical ferrules 1301A and 1301B are mated in a state where theplurality of optical fibers 1302 are fixed to each of the opticalferrules 1301A and 1301B in advance, but in FIGS. 19A and 19B, anillustration of the optical fibers 1302 is omitted.

First, as illustrated in FIG. 19A, the second optical ferrule 1301B isinverted in the vertical direction relative to the first optical ferrule1301A, and the bottom surface 1452 of the guide part 1315 of the firstoptical ferrule 1301A and the bottom surface 1452 of the guide part 1315of the second optical ferrule 1301B come into mutual contact. Next,while the guide part 1315 of the second optical ferrule 1301B slides inthe length direction along the guide part 1315 of the first opticalferrule 1301A, the guide part 1315 of the second optical ferrule 1301Bis inserted into the guide opening 1314 of the first optical ferrule 1A,and the guide part 1315 of the first optical ferrule 1301A is insertedinto the guide opening 1314 of the second optical ferrule 1301B,respectively.

The tip part of the guide part 1315 and the entrance part of the guideopening 1314 are formed with a tapered shape in the height direction andthe thickness direction respectively, and therefore, insertion of theguide part 1315 into the guide opening 1314 is simple. After the guidepart 1315 is inserted, the first protruding parts 1453 and 1454 (FIG.18) of the guide part 1315 and the second protruding parts 1407 and 1412(FIG. 16) of the guide opening 1314 come into mutual contact, and thefirst protruding parts 1453 and 1454 slide on top of the secondprotruding parts 1407 and 1412. Therefore, the frictional force wheninserting the guide part 1315 is reduced, and the inserting force whenmating the first optical ferrule 1301A and the second optical ferrule1301B can be reduced. When the guide part 1315 is completely insertedinto the guide opening 1314, the first optical ferrule 1301A and thesecond optical ferrule 1301B are in a mated state as illustrated in FIG.19B. In the mated state, the end part of the guide part 1315 ispositioned on the inner side of the guide opening 1314 withoutprotruding to the outside from the guide opening 1314.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating the mated state of theoptical ferrules 1301A and 1301B. As illustrated in FIG. 20, in themated state, the vertical surfaces 1422 and 1432 of the side walls 1312and 1313 of the first optical ferrule 1301A, and the vertical surfaces1422 and 1432 of the side walls 1312 and 1313 of the second opticalferrule 1301B come into mutual contact, and the relative position in thelength direction of the second optical ferrule 1301B with regards to thefirst optical ferrule 1301A is regulated. Furthermore, the maximumthickness t1 (FIG. 17) of the first protruding parts 1453 and 1454 ofthe guide part 1315, and the minimum height t2 of the second protrudingparts 1407 and 1412 of the guide opening 1314 are approximately equal,and the relative position in the height direction of the second opticalferrule 1301B with regards to the first optical ferrule 1301A isregulated. Furthermore, the width w1 (FIG. 18) of the guide part and thewidth w2 of the guide opening 1314 are approximately equal, and therelative position in the width direction of the second optical ferrule1301B with regards to the first optical ferrule 1301A is regulated.

By regulating the relative position in the length direction, the heightdirection, and the width direction of the second optical ferrule 1301Bwith regards to the first optical ferrule 1301A in this manner, as shownin FIG. 19B, the bottom surface 1523 (exit surface) of the first opticalferrule 1301A and the bottom surface 1523 (entrance surface) of thesecond optical ferrule 1301B can be arranged facing each other with highpositional accuracy.

FIG. 19B also illustrates the transmission path of the light. Theincoming light entering the first optical ferrule 1301A from the opticalfibers 1302 through the entrance surface 1521 is propagated along anincoming axis L11, and is totally reflected by the light directionconverting surface 1522, thereby changing the direction. The light witha change in direction is propagated along an outgoing axis L12 for whichthe direction was converted, emitted along an outgoing axis L13 from theexit surface 1523, and is transmitted to the second optical ferrule1301B as outgoing light.

The light transmitted to the second optical ferrule 1301B through theentrance surface 1523 is propagated along an incoming axis L21, and istotally reflected by the light direction converting surface 1522,thereby changing the direction. The light with a change in direction ispropagated along a direction converted axis L22, emitted along anoutgoing axis L23 from the exit surface 1521, and is transmitted to theoptical fibers 2 as outgoing light. At this time, the outgoing axis L13where the first optical ferrule 1301A emits light and the incoming axisL21 where the second optical ferrule 1301B receives light are the sameaxis, and therefore, transmission loss of the light at the connectionsurface of the optical ferrules 1301A and 1301B can be reduced.

The optical ferrule of the present embodiment can provide the followingeffects.

-   (1) The optical ferrule 1301 provides: an upper wall 1310; a bottom    wall 1311; a pair of facing side walls 1312 and 1313 that are    connected to the upper wall 1310 and the bottom wall 1311 such that    a guide opening 1314 is formed on the inner side together with the    upper wall 1310 and the bottom wall 1311; a guide part 1315    (mechanical tab) that extends forward from the upper wall 1310 and    the guide opening 1314; and an optical fiber coupler 1320 that is    located on the upper surface of the upper wall 1310. The optical    fiber coupler 1320 has an alignment part 1321 that aligns and hold    the optical fibers 1302 and serves as a first attachment area, and a    light direction converter 1322. The light direction converter 1322    has an entrance surface 1521 or 1523 that receives incoming light    from the optical fibers 1302 that are aligned and positioned by the    alignment part 1321; a light direction converting surface 1522 that    receives the light propagated along the incoming axis L11 or L21    from the entrance surface 1521 or 1523, and then reflects the    received light; and an exit surface 1523 or 1521 that receives the    light from the light directing surface 1522, propagates the received    light along the outgoing axis L13 or L23, and then transmits the    light as outgoing light emitted from the optical ferrule 1301A or    1301B. The optical ferrules 1301A and 1301B have a unitary    structure.

Therefore, the optical ferrule 1301 does not require a mating pin ormating hole that is required by some ferrules, and also does not requireinstallation space therefor. Therefore, multi-fiber cables can be easilyrealized without increasing the number of parts.

-   (2) The pair of optical ferrules 1301A and 1301B that are mated    together are male-female (hermaphroditic) units. Therefore, the    connectors have common parts, and the cost can be reduced.-   (3) The optical ferrule 1301 provides: first protruding parts 1453    and 1454 that protrude from the upper surface 1451 and the bottom    surface 1452 of the guide part 1315, and extend along the length    direction of the optical ferrule 1301; and second protruding parts    1407 and 1412 that protrude from the bottom surface 1411 of the    upper wall 1310 and the upper surface 1411 of the bottom wall 1311,    and extend along the length direction of the optical ferrule 1301    toward the guide opening 1314. Therefore, of the upper and lower    surfaces of the guide part 1315 and the upper and lower surfaces of    the guide opening 1314, only the first protruding parts 1453 and    1454 and the second protruding parts 1407 and 1412 are required to    be processed with high accuracy, and thus the processing cost can be    reduced.-   (4) One of the optical ferrules 1301A was made to mate along a    mating direction parallel to the length direction of the other    optical ferrule 1301B, and therefore, the optical fibers 1302 that    extend in the length direction of the optical ferrules 1301A and    1301B can be connected in an approximately linear state.-   (5) The guide parts 1315 of the first optical ferrule 1301A and the    second optical ferrule 1301B are both inserted on the inner side of    the guide openings 1314 of the opposing first optical ferrule 1301A    and second optical ferrule 1301B respectively, and therefore, the    first optical ferrule 1301A and the second optical ferrule 1301B can    be easily mated.-   (6) When the first optical ferrule 1301A and the second optical    ferrule 1301B are mated, the first protruding parts 1453 and 1454 of    the first optical ferrule 1301A and the second optical ferrule 1301B    are connected to the second protruding parts 1407 and 1412 of the    opposing first optical ferrule 1301A and the second optical ferrule    1301B so as to slide, and therefore, the contact area of the guide    part 1315 and the guide opening 1314 is reduced, and insertion of    the guide part 1315 into the guide opening 1314 is easy. The first    protruding parts 1453 and 1454 are formed with a cross-sectional    rectangular shape, and the second protruding parts 1407 and 1412 are    formed with a cross-sectional triangular shape, and therefore, the    guide part 1315 and the guide opening 1314 are in linear contact at    two left and right points, and while the contact area is reduced,    the guide part 1315 can be stabilized and supported within the guide    opening 1314.

Note that with the embodiment, the waveguide alignment part (alignmentpart 1321) that aligns and contains the optical fibers 1302 as anoptical waveguide is configured by the V grooves 1405, but theconfiguration of the waveguide alignment part is not restricted thereto.With the embodiment, the direction in which the light reflected by thelight direction converting surface 1322 propagates through the opticalferrule 1301 (direction of the direction converted axis), and thedirection that the outgoing light is emitted from the optical ferrule1301 (direction of the outgoing axis) are the same, but as long as thereflected light is propagated in a different direction than thedirection that the light that enters the optical ferrule 1301 ispropagated (direction of the incoming axis), the direction of thedirection converted axis can be different from the direction of theoutgoing axis.

Next, the optical connector according to an embodiment is describedwhile referring to FIG. 21 through FIG. 40. FIG. 21 is a perspectiveview illustrating the mated state of the optical connectors (firstoptical connector 1305 and second optical connector 1306) according toan embodiment. Note that below, the front-back direction, the left-rightdirection, and vertical direction are defined as illustrated by thedrawings, and the configuration of each part is described in accordancewith these definitions as a matter of convenience. The verticaldirection is the mating direction of optical connectors 1305 and 1306.

The first optical connector 1305 is attached to a first substrate 1307that extends in the front-back and left-right directions, and the secondoptical connector 1306 is attached to a second substrate 1308 thatextends in the vertical and left-right directions. A tip part of aplurality of optical fiber units 1400 (FIG. 15) that extend in thevertical direction, in other words, a tip part of the optical fiberunits 1400 having the aforementioned first optical ferrule 1301A isdisposed on the first optical connector 1305. A tip part of theplurality of optical fiber units 1400 that extend in the verticaldirection, in other words, a tip part of the optical fiber units 1400having the aforementioned second optical ferrule 1301B is disposed onthe second optical connector 1306. When the first optical connector 1305and the second optical connector 6 are mated, the first optical ferrule1301A and the second optical ferrule 1301B are mated, and the tip partsof the optical fiber units 1400 on the first optical connector side andthe optical fiber units 1400 on the second optical connector side areconnected.

First, the configuration of the first optical connector 1305 isdescribed. FIG. 22A and FIG. 22B are respective perspective views of thefirst optical connector 1305. The first optical connector 1305 has afirst case 1350 that is attached to the first substrate 1307 by passingthrough the first substrate 1307, and a plurality of optical fiberassemblies 1351 that are housed in the first case 1350. The opticalfiber assemblies 1351 have four rows of optical fiber units 1400 in thefront-back direction, and four rows of the optical fiber assemblies 1351in the left-right direction are disposed in the first case 1350.

FIG. 23A and FIG. 23B are each perspective views of the optical fiberunit 1400. Note that the optical fiber units 1400 on the first opticalconnector 1305 side and the optical fiber units 1400 on the secondoptical connector 1306 side have the same shape. As illustrated in FIG.23A and FIG. 23B, a securement member 1304, that provides a portion ofthe first attachment area, is configured by resin molding is fixed at aposition that is separated only at a predetermined distance from theoptical ferrules (1301A and 1301B) on one surface of a plurality offiber ribbons 1303. The securement member 1304 extends parallel to thewidth direction of the optical ferrule 1301. A pair of receiving grooves1342 are formed in the width direction on a surface 1341 facing thefiber ribbons 1303 of the securement member 1304, and engaging grooves1343 that are parallel with the receiving grooves 1342 are formed onboth sides in the width direction of the receiving grooves 1342. A pairof fiber ribbons 1303 are contained in each of the receiving grooves1342, and the fiber ribbons 1303 are fixed to the securement member 1304by an adhesive. Another surface 1344 of the securement member 1304 issubstantially flat.

As illustrated in FIG. 22A, the first case 1350 has a front wall 1801, arear wall 1802, and left and right side walls 1803 and 1804 that connectboth left and right end parts of the front wall 1801 and both left andright end parts of the rear wall 1802, and is made by resin molding. Thefront wall 1801, the rear wall 1802, and the side walls 1803 and 1804extend respectively in the vertical direction, and the first case 1350assumes a frame shape where the upper surface and the lower surface areopen. A holding space SP10 for holding the optical fiber assemblies 1351is formed on the inner part of the first case 1350.

The first case 1350 has a center wall 1805 that connects the left andright center part of the front wall 1801 and the left and right centerpart of the rear wall 1802, and the holding space SP10 is divided in twoin the left-right directions by the center wall 1805. A guide pin 1806and a latch 1807 protrude upward on the upper surface of the center wall1805. The upper surface of the center wall 1805 is positioned moredownward than the upper surfaces of the front wall 1801 and the rearwall 1802, and the bottom surface of the center wall 1805 is positionedmore upward than the bottom surfaces of the front wall 1801 and the rearwall 1802. A cutaway is provided facing downward in the left-rightdirection of the center part on the upper surface of the front wall1801, and a concave part 1805 a is formed by the cutaway on the frontside of the center wall 1805.

Collar parts 1808 and 1809 protruding to the outside in the left-rightdirection of the center part in the front-back direction arerespectively provided on the left surface of the side wall 1803 and theright surface of the side wall 1804. An opening part 1370 correspondingto the external shape of the first case 1350 is provided on the firstsubstrate 1307, the lower end part of the first case 1350 passes throughthe opening part 1370, and the bottom surface of the first case 1350protrudes more downward than the bottom surface of the first substrate1307. Screw holes 1371 and 1372 are formed around the opening part 1370.The screw hole 1371 is provided near the corner of the first case 1350,and the screw hole 1372 is provided in front and behind the center wall1805 of the first case 1350.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view along line XIII-XIII of FIG. 22B. Asillustrated in FIG. 22B and FIG. 24, a slit 1800 a is provided on thebottom surface of the first case 1350, and a metal plate 1800 is pressfit in the slit 1800 a. Note that in FIG. 22B, an illustration of theright side of the plate 1800 is omitted. The plate 1800 extends parallelto the opening of the bottom surface of the first case 1350, and thefront end part and the rear end part of the opening of the bottomsurface of the first case 1350 are blocked by the plate 1800. A concavepart 1800 b is formed on the upper surface of the plate 1800.

A metal supporting plate 1373 is attached to the bottom surface of thefirst substrate 1307. The supporting plate 1373 is fixed to the firstsubstrate 1307 by a screw (not illustrated) that screws into the screwhole 1371. The supporting plate 1373 has a rectangular opening 2030, andthe first case 1350 is disposed on the inner side of the opening 2030.Respective rotating supporting members 1374 are disposed in front andbehind the center wall 1805 of the first case 1350. The rotatingsupporting member 1374 has a flange part 2041 and an arm part 2042, andis made of resin molding.

The flange part 2041 of the rotating supporting member 1374 is fixed tothe first substrate 1307 with the supporting plate 1373 interposedtherebetween by a screw (not illustrated) that is screwed in the screwhole 1372. The arm part 2042 extends from the flange part 2041 over thebottom surface of the first case 1350 to the bottom surface of thecenter wall 1805. In other words, the arm part extends such that thefront and rear surfaces of the front wall 1801 and the front and rearsurfaces of the rear wall 1802 of the first case 1350 are respectivelyinterposed. A pin 2043 passes through the front wall 1801 and the armpart 2042 of the rotating supporting member 1374 on the front side, andpasses through the rear wall 1802 and the arm part 2042 of the rotatingsupporting member 1374 on the rear side, in the front-back direction.Therefore, the lower end part of the first case 1350 is supported in amanner that can tilt from the first substrate 1307 with the pin 2043acting as a fulcrum.

Both left and right end parts of the supporting plate 1373 are bentdownward away from the bottom surface of the first substrate 1307 in thefront-back direction of the center part, and a spring shoe 2031 is fixedto the upper surface of the supporting plate 1373. A coil spring (notillustrated) is interposed between the spring shoe 2031 and the collarparts 1808 and 1809 of the first case 1350. Therefore, the elastic forcedue to the coil spring is applied to both left and right end parts ofthe first case 1350 from the first substrate 1307 through the collarparts 1808 and 1809 and the supporting plate 1373, and the first case1350 is elastically supported in a manner that can tilt from the firstsubstrate 1307 by a floating mechanism.

FIG. 25A and FIG. 25B are respective perspectives views of the opticalfiber assembly 1351 that is housed in the first case 1350. The opticalfiber assembly 1351 contains: a left and right pair of bodies 1352 thatenclose four sets of optical fiber units 1400; a left and right pair ofplate members 1353 that are respectively fixed to the lower end parts ofthe left and right pair of bodies 1352; and a front and rear pair ofspring shoes 1354 that are attached to both front and rear end parts ofthe plate members 1353. The body 1352 on the right side and the body1352 on the left side, as well as the plate member 1353 on the rightside and the plate member 1353 on the left side are symmetrical to eachother on the left and right. The spring shoe 1354 on the front side andthe spring shoe 1354 on the rear side can be symmetrical in the frontand back. The bodies 1352 and the spring shoes 1354 can be made by resinmolding. The plate member 1353 can be made of a metal plate.

FIG. 26 is a view (plan view) in the direction of arrow XV of FIG. 25A.As illustrated in FIG. 26, the body 1352 has a front wall 1821, a rearwall 1822, and a side wall 1823 that connects the front wall 1821 andthe rear wall 1822, and assumes a C-shape from a plan view. Asillustrated in FIG. 25A, protruding parts 1824 and 1825 that protrudemore upward than the side wall 1823 are formed on the upper end part ofthe front wall 1821 and the upper end part of the rear wall 1822. Theprotruding part 1824 has increased thickness and rigidity toward thefront. The protruding part 1824 protrudes further upward than theprotruding part 1825 (refer to FIG. 24).

FIG. 27A and FIG. 27B are respective perspective views that omit theright side body 1352 from the optical fiber assembly 1351 of FIG. 25Aand FIG. 25B, and FIG. 28 is a view (front surface view) in thedirection of arrow XVII of FIG. 27A. As illustrated in FIG. 28, aprotruding part 1826 that protrudes forward is provided on the frontsurface of the front wall 1821 of the body 1352. An engaging groove 1826a is formed on the circumference surface of the protruding part 1826(right end surface and lower end surface of the protruding part 1826 ofthe body 1352 on the right side, and the left end surface and the lowerend surface of the protruding part 1826 of the body 1352 on the leftside). A U-shaped clip 1357 made from a metal plate of a predeterminedthickness is engaged from the lower side in the engaging grooves 1826 aof the left and right bodies 1352, and the front end parts of the leftand right bodies 1352 are connected through the clip 1357.

As illustrated in FIG. 26 and FIG. 27A, a protruding part 1827 thatprotrudes forward is provided on the front surface of the rear wall 1822of the body 1352. An engaging groove 1827 a is formed on thecircumference surface of the protruding part 1827 (right end surface andlower end surface of the protruding part 1827 of the body 1352 on theright side, and the left end surface and the lower end surface of theprotruding part 1827 of the body 1352 on the left side). A U-shaped clip1358 made from a metal plate of a predetermined thickness is engagedfrom the lower side in the engaging grooves 1827 a of the left and rightbodies 1352, and the rear end parts of the left and right bodies 1352are connected through the clip 1358. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG.26, a holding space SP11 of the optical fiber units 1400 is formed onthe inner side of the left and right bodies 1352. Note that the clip1357 and the clip 1358 can have the same shape.

A plurality of position regulating parts 1828 that protrude toward theholding space SP11 are provided at equal intervals in the front backdirection on the inner wall surface of the side wall 1823 of the body1352. The front end surfaces (both left and right end parts of the upperwall 1310 in FIG. 13) of the optical ferrule 1301 are respectively incontact with the position regulating part 1828, and a gap CL1 isprovided between the rear end surface of the optical ferrule 1301 andthe position regulating part 1828 to the back thereof. Thereby, theoptical ferrule 1301 can be moved rearward.

As illustrated in FIG. 27A, of the four rows of optical fiber units 1400in the front-back direction, the securement member 1304 is fixed on therear end surface of the fiber ribbons 1303 for the first and third rowsof optical fiber units 1400 a and 1400 c, and the securement member 1304is fixed on the front end surface of the fiber ribbons 1303 for thesecond and fourth rows of optical fiber units 1400 b and 1400 d.Therefore, the flat surfaces 1344 of the first and second rows ofoptical fiber units 1400 a and 1400 b face each other, and the flatsurfaces 1344 of the third and fourth rows of optical fibers units 1400c and 1400 d face each other.

A front and rear pair of grooves with bottoms 1831 and 1832 are formedfacing downward on the upper end surface of the plate member 1353. Theend part of the securement members 1304 of the optical ferrule units1400 a and 1400 b, in other words, the engaging groove 1343 in FIG. 23Ais inserted from above into the groove with bottom 1831 on the frontside, and the engaging grooves 1343 of the optical ferrule units 1400 aand 1400 b are respectively engaged in the front wall and the rear wallof the groove with bottom 1831. Similarly, the end parts (engaginggroove 1343) of the securement members 1304 of the optical ferrule units1400 c and 1400 d are inserted from above into the groove with bottom1832 on the rear side, and the engaging grooves 1343 of the opticalferrule units 1400 c and 1400 d are respectively engaged in the frontwall and the rear wall of the groove with bottom 1832. Thereby, thesecurement members 4 of the optical ferrule units 1400 a through 1400 dare fixed to the plate member 1353.

The plate member 1353 protrudes upward between the grooves with bottom1831 and 1832 and behind the groove with bottom 1832, and through holes1833 and 1834 are opened on the protruding part. An illustration isomitted, but a convex part is provided corresponding to the throughholes 1833 and 1834 on the inner wall surface of the side wall 1823 ofthe body 1352. The convex part of the body 1352 is mated to the throughholes 1833 and 1834 of the left and right plate members 1353 from theoutside on the left and right, and the left and right bodies 1352 arefixed to the left and right plate members 1353 by engaging the clips1357 and 1358 from below.

The front end part and the rear end part of the plate member 1353protrude further forward and rearward than the front wall 1821 and therear wall 1822 of the body 1352. Engaging grooves 1835 are formed facingrearward and forward respectively on the front end surface and the rearend surface of the protruding part. As illustrated in FIG. 27B, circularconcave parts 1840 are formed on the left and right of the center parton the bottom surface of the spring shoe 1354. A protruding part 1841that protrudes in the left-right direction corresponding to the engaginggroove 1835 of the plate member 1353 is provided on both left and rightend parts of the spring shoe 1354. The plate member 1353 and the springshoe 1354 are integrated by engaging the protruding part 1841 of thespring shoe 1354 from the outside in the left-right directions to thegroove with bottom 1835. Thereby, the optical fiber assemblies 1351 canbe assembled.

As illustrated in FIG. 24, respective step parts 1350 a are provided onthe rear surface of the front wall 1801 and the front surface of therear wall 1802 of the first case 1350, and the length in the front-backdirection of the holding space SP10 is reduced on the upward side morethan the step part 1350 a. The distance from the rear end surface of thestep part 1350 a on the front side to the front end surface of the steppart 1350 a on the rear side is equal to the distance from the front endsurface to the rear end surface of the body 1352 of the optical fiberassembly 1351. Therefore, the position in the front-back direction ofthe body 1352 in the first case 1350 is regulated.

Note that an illustration is omitted, but respective step parts 1350 aare also provided on the right surface of the side wall 1803 and theleft surface of the side wall 1804 of the first case 1305, and arejoined to the step parts 1350 a of the front wall 1801 and the rear wall1802. The distance from the step part 1350 a of the side walls 1803 and1804 to the left and right inner side surfaces of the center wall 1805is equal to the distance between the left and right outer side surfacesof a pair of optical fiber assemblies 1351 when the pair of opticalfiber assemblies 1351 is disposed on the left and right between the sidewalls 1803 and 1804 and the center wall 1805 as illustrated in FIG. 22A.Thereby, the position in the left-right direction of the body 1352 inthe first case 1350 is regulated.

As illustrated in FIG. 24, a coil spring 1359 is interposed between aconcave part 1840 on the bottom surface of the spring shoe 1354 of theoptical fiber assembly 1351, and a concave part 1350 b of a plate 1800that is mounted on the bottom surface of the first case 1350, and theoptical fiber assembly 1351 can be raised and lowered against thebiasing force of the coil spring 1359. FIG. 24 illustrates a position ofthe optical fiber assembly 1351 after mating the first optical connector13015 to the second optical connector 306, and the spring shoe 1354 ispositioned lower than the bottom surface 1350 b of the step part 1350 a.Before mating the first optical connector 1305, the spring shoe 1354 isbiased upward by the spring 1359, and contacts the bottom surface 1350 bof the step part 1350 a. Therefore, upward movement of the optical fiberassembly 1351 is restricted, and the maximum raised position of theoptical fiber assembly 1351 in the first case 1350 is regulated.

Next, the configuration of the second optical connector 1306 isdescribed. FIG. 29A and FIG. 29B are perspective views of the secondoptical connectors 1306. The second optical connector 1306 has a secondcase 60 attached to a second substrate 1308, and a plurality of opticalfiber assemblies 1361 that are housed in the second case 1360. Theoptical fiber assemblies 1361 have four rows of optical fiber units 1400in the front-back direction, and four rows of optical fiber assemblies1361 are disposed in the left-right direction in the second case 1360.

The second case 1360 has a front wall 1901, a rear wall 1902, and leftand right side walls 1903 and 1904 that connect both left and right endparts of the front wall 1901 and both left and right end parts of therear wall 1902, and is made by resin molding. The front wall 1901, therear wall 1902, and the side walls 1903 and 1904 respectively extend inthe vertical direction, and the second case 1360 assumes a frame shapewhere the upper surface and the lower surface are open. A holding spaceSP20 for holding the optical fiber assemblies 1361 is formed on theinner part of the second case 1360. A left and right pair of covers 1360a are mounted on the upper surface of the second case 1360, and theoptical fiber unit 100 extends upward passing through the cover 1360 a.

The second case 1360 has a center wall 1905 that connects the left andright center part of the front wall 1901 and the left and right centerpart of the rear wall 1902, and the holding space SP20 is divided in twoin the left-right directions by the center wall 1905. A pin hole 1606that engages the guide pin 1806 (FIG. 22A) of the first case 1350, and alatch hole 1907 that engages the latch 1807 (FIG. 22A) are drilled inthe lower surface of the center wall 1905. Flange parts 1908 and 1909protrude respectively in the left and right directions on the rear endand upper end parts of the side walls 1903 and 1904, and the second case1360 is fastened to the second substrate 1308 by a bolt that passesthrough the flange parts 1908 and 1909.

A rectangular through hole 1360 b is formed on the front wall 1901 andthe rear wall 1902, corresponding to the position of slanted parts 1367a and 1368 a (FIG. 30A and FIG. 30B) of the clips 1367 and 1368 of theoptical fiber assembly 1361. A long narrow guide part 1910 with aconstant width in the left-right direction extends in the verticaldirection to the front surface of the front wall 1901. The lower endpart of the guide part 1910 protrudes further downward than the lowerend surface of the front wall 1901 (refer to FIG. 33). The length in thefront-back direction of the lower end part of the outer wall surface ofthe second case 1360 is shorter than the length in the front-backdirection of the inner wall surface above the first case 1350, and thelength in the left-right direction of the lower end part of the outerwall surface of the second case 1360 is shorter than the length in theleft-right direction of the inner wall surface of the first case 1350.

Therefore, the second case 1360 can be inserted in the first case 1350,and as illustrated in FIG. 21, when the lower end part of the secondcase 1360 is inserted in the first case 1350, a guide part 1910 of thesecond case 1360 is inserted in the concave part 1805 a of the firstcase. At the same time, the guide pin 1806 of the first case 1350 isinserted in the pin hole 1906 of the second case 1360, and the secondcase 1360 is positioned in the first case 1350. Furthermore, the latch1807 of the first case 1350 is engaged in the latch hole 1907 of thesecond case 1360, and the second case 1360 is connected to the firstcase 1350.

FIG. 30A and FIG. 30B are respective perspective views of the opticalfiber assembly 1361 that is housed in the second case 1360. The opticalfiber assembly 1361 contains: a left and right pair of bodies 1362 thatenclose four optical fiber units 1400; a plate member 1363 that is fixedto the upper end part of the left and right pair of bodies 1362; a platespring member 1364 that is supported on the rear end part of the leftand right pair of bodies 1362; and a pressing member 1365 that issupported on the front end part of the left and right pair of bodie1362. The body 1362 on the right side and the body 1362 on the left sideare symmetrical to each other on the left and right. The plate member1363, the plate spring member 1364, and the pressing member 1365 aresymmetrical to each other on the left and right. The body 1362 and thepressing member 1365 can be made by resin molding. The plate member 1363and the plate spring member 1364 can be made of a metal plate.

FIG. 31 is a view (plan view) in the direction of arrow XX of FIG. 30B.As illustrated in FIG. 31, the body 1362 has a front wall 1921, a rearwall 1922, and a side wall 1923 that connects the front wall 1921 andthe rear wall 1922, and assumes a C-shape from a plan view. Asillustrated in FIG. 30B and FIG. 31, a protruding part 1926 thatprotrudes forward is provided on the front surface of the front wall1921. An engaging groove 1926 a is formed on the circumference surfaceof the protruding part 1926 (right end surface and lower end surface ofthe protruding part 1926 of the body 1362 on the right side, and theleft end surface and the lower end surface of the protruding part 1926of the body 1362 on the left side). A U-shaped clip 1367 made from ametal plate of a predetermined thickness is engaged downward in theengaging grooves 1926 a of the left and right bodies 1362, and the frontend parts of the left and right bodies 1362 are connected through theclip 1367. A slanted part 1367 a that protrudes forward at a slant isprovided on both left and right end parts of the clip 1367.

As illustrated in FIG. 30A and FIG. 31, a protruding part 1927 thatprotrudes rearward is provided on the rear surface of the rear wall1922. An engaging groove 1927 a is formed on the circumference surfaceof the protruding part 1927 (right end surface and lower end surface ofthe protruding part 1927 of the body 1362 on the right side, and theleft end surface and the lower end surface of the protruding part 1927of the body 1362 on the left side). A U-shaped clip 1368 made from ametal plate of a predetermined thickness is engaged downward in theengaging grooves 1927 a of the left and right bodies 1362, and the rearend parts of the left and right bodies 1362 are connected through theclip 1368. A slanted part 1368 a that protrudes rearward at a slant isprovided on both left and right end parts of the clip 1368. Therefore,as illustrated in FIG. 31, the holding space SP21 of the optical fiberunits 1400 is formed on the inner side of the left and right bodies1362. Note that the clip 1367 and the clip 1368 may have the same shape.

A plurality of position regulating parts 1928 that protrude toward theholding space SP21 are provided at equal intervals in the front backdirection on the inner wall surface of the side wall 1923 of the body1362. The front end surface (both left and right end parts of the upperwall 1310 in FIG. 21) of the optical ferrule 1301 are in contact withthe position regulating part 1528, and a gap CL2 is provided between therear end surface of the optical ferrule 1301 and the position regulatingpart 1928 to the back thereof. Thereby, the optical ferrule 1301 can bemoved rearward. A partition wall 1929 protrudes in the left-rightdirection on the inner side from the position regulating part 1928 ofthe foremost part, and a holding space SP22 is formed between thepartition wall 1929 and the front wall 1921. The pressing member 1365 ishoused in the holding space SP22.

FIG. 32A and FIG. 32B are respective perspective views that omit theleft side body 1362 from the optical fiber assembly 1361 of FIG. 31A andFIG. 31B. As illustrated in FIG. 32B, the protruding part 1365 aprotrudes on both left and right end parts of the pressing member 1365.As illustrated in FIG. 31, a stopper part 1929 a is formed facing theupper end surface of the protruding part 1365 a between the front wall1921 and partition wall 1929 of the body 1362. Upward movement of thepressing member 1365 is limited due to the protruding part 1365 acontacting the stopper 1929 a.

As illustrated in FIG. 32A, the plate spring member 1364 has arectangular base part 1941, and an arm part 1942 that extends at anangle forward and upward from the base part 1941, and an arc shapedpressing part 1943 is formed on the tip of the arm part 1942. The armpart 1942 includes a pair of left and right beam members for increasingthe spring properties. Although an illustration is omitted, a concavepart that mates with the upper and lower angle part of the right sideand the upper and lower angle part of the left side of the base part1941 is formed in the rear wall 1922 of the left and right bodies 1362.Therefore, when the left and right bodies 1362 are joined, the anglepart of the base part 1941 mates with the concave part, and the basepart 1941 is secured to the rear wall 1922. At this time, the pressingpart 1943 of the plate spring member 1364 applies a bias in the forwarddirection on the back end surface of the securement member 1304 of theoptical ferrule unit 1400. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 31, theoptical ferrule 1301 is pushed forward, and contacts the positionregulating part 1928.

As illustrated in FIG. 32A and FIG. 32B, the plate material 1363 hasleft and right side walls 1931 and 1932 and a front wall 1933 that isconnected to the front end part of the left and right side walls 1931and 1932. The lower end surfaces of the side walls 1931 and 1932 areprovided with grooves with bottoms 1935 and 1936 similar to the opticalfiber assembly 1351 (FIG. 27A) of the first optical connector 1305. Theengaging groove 1343 of the securement member 1304 of the opticalferrule unit 1400 (FIG. 23B) engages with the front wall and the rearwall of the grooves with bottoms 1935 and 1936, and the securementmember 1304 of the optical ferrule unit 1400 is secured to the platemember 1363. A front and back pair of semicircular shaped protrudingparts 1937 are provided on the upper end surface of the side walls 1931and 1932. A slanted part 1934 that slants upward and backward extendsfrom the upper end surface of the front wall 1933 of the plate member1363. A lower end surface of a pressing member 1365 abuts the uppersurface of the slanted part 1934.

The plate member 1363 protrudes upward between the grooves with bottoms1931 and 1932, and an elongated hole 1933 elongated in the front andback direction is formed in the protruding part. A convex part 1925(FIG. 33) corresponding to the elongated hole 1933 is provided in theside wall surface of the side wall 1923 of the body 1362. The height inthe vertical direction of the convex part 1925 is almost equal to theheight of the elongated hole 1933, and the length in the front backdirection of the convex part 1925 is shorter than the length of theelongated hole 1933. When the left and right bodies 1362 are linked byclips 1367 and 1368, the convex part 1925 of the body 1362 mates withthe elongated holes 1933 of the left and right plate members 1363 fromthe outer sides in the left and right direction. The concave part 1925can slide in the front and back direction along the elongated hole 1933,and therefore the left and right bodies 1362 are connected so as to bemoveable in the front and back direction to the plate member 1363.Thereby the optical fiber assembly 1361 is assembled.

FIG. 33 is a cross-section view cut along line XXII-XXII in FIG. 29A. Asillustrated in FIG. 33, step parts 1901 a and 1902 a are provided on thefront surface of the rear wall 1902 and the back surface of the frontwall 1901 of the second case 1360, and the length in the front and backdirection of the holding space SP20 is narrower toward the bottom of thestep parts 1901 a and 1902 a. When the optical fiber assembly 1361 isinserted from above the second case 1360, the lower end surface of theprotruding parts 1926 and 1927 will abut the upper surface of the stepparts 1901 a and 1902 a, and thus downward movement of the optical fiberassembly 1361 is limited. At this time, the tips of the slanted parts1367 a and 1368 a of the clips 1367 and 1368 are inserted into theopening part 1360 b (FIG. 29B) of the optical connectors 1360, and thusupward movement of the optical fiber assembly 1361 is also limited.

The length from the front end surface to the back end surface of thebody 1362 of the optical fiber assembly 1361 is equal to the length fromthe back surface of the front wall 1901 to the front surface of the rearwall 1902 of the second case 1360 above the step parts 1901 a and 1902a. Thereby, the position of the body 1362 in the second case 1360 isregulated. In this case, the convex part 1925 of the body 1362 mateswith the elongated hole 1933 in the front and back direction of theplate member 1363, and the plate member 1363 can move back against thebiasing force of the plate spring member 1364 while the protruding part1937 of the upper end surface of abuts the bottom surface of the cover1360 a. Note that as illustrated in FIG. 29A, when the pair of opticalfiber assemblies 1361 is positioned between the side walls 1903 and 1904and the center wall 1905 of the second case 1360, the distance betweenthe left and right outer side surfaces of the pair of optical fiberassemblies 1361 is equal to the distance from the left right inner sidesurfaces of the side walls 1903 and 1904 of the second case 1360 to thecenter wall 1305. Therefore, the position in the left and rightdirection of the body 1362 in the second case 1360 is regulated.

The action when mating the optical connectors 1305 and 1306 will bedescribed. For example, when the second optical connector 1306 ispressed to the first optical connector 1305, the position is determinedby the guide pin 1806 (FIG. 22A) and the guide part 1910 (FIG. 29A),while at the same time, as illustrated in FIG. 34, the protruding part1824 on the front wall upper end part of the body 1352 of the firstoptical connector 1305 is inserted into the holding space SP22 of theback part of the front wall of the body 1362 of the second opticalconnector 1306, and the tip of the protruding part 1824 contacts thelower end part of the pressing member 1365. When the second opticalconnector 1306 is pressed further, the protruding part 1824 presses thepressing member 1365 upward, and thus a pushing force in the backdirection is applied to the plate member 1363 through the slanted part1934. Therefore, the plate member 1363 moves rearward against thebiasing force of the plate spring member 1364, and in conjunction, thesecurement member 1304 of the optical fiber unit 1400 is also movedrearward.

The first optical ferrule 1301A can move in the front and back directionin the holding space SP11 of the body 1352, and the second ferrule 1301Bcan move in the front and back direction in the holding space SP21 ofthe body 1362. As a result, the mating profile between the first opticalferrule 1301A that is assembled into the first optical connector 1305and the second optical ferrule 1301B that is assembled into the secondoptical connector 1306 will be at a slant. In other words, the firstoptical ferrule 1301A and the second optical ferrule 1301B mutuallyextend in the vertical direction and begin to mate, but as matingprogresses, the securement member 1304 on the second optical ferrule1301B side will move rearward, and the optical ferrule unit 1400 (fiberribbon 1303) will become a point of support for the securement member1304 and will deform (bend), and thus the first optical ferrule 1301Aand the second optical ferrule 1301B will slant while maintaining themating profile (first slant). Even if the first optical ferrule 1301Aand the second optical ferrule 1301B are completely mated, the secondoptical connector 1306 will be pressed until the latch 1807 of the firstoptical connector 1305 engages with the latch hole 1907 of the secondoptical connector 1306, the optical ferrule unit 1400 will furtherdeform as a point of support for the securement member 1304, and thefirst optical ferrule 1301A and the second optical ferrule 1301B willslant further while maintaining the mating profile (second slant).

In this manner, an elastic force (reaction force of deformation) acts ina direction that pushes the first optical ferrule 1301A and the secondoptical ferrule 1301B together because the optical ferrule unit 1300 isdeformed by the first slant and the second slant of the optical ferrules1301A and 1301B. Therefore, stable light transmission characteristicscan be maintained between the optical ferrules 1301A and 1301B, evenwith the effects of vibration and the like. In this case, the opticalconnectors 1305 and 1306 are pressed while the optical ferrules 1301Aand 1301B are slanting, so the mating force of the optical connectors1305 and 6130 can be reduced. In other words, when the opticalconnectors 1305 and 1306 are mated in a condition where the opticalferrules 1301A and 1301B are not slanted, an extremely large force willact in order to bend the optical ferrule unit 1400. In contrast, withthe present embodiment, the optical connector is mated while the opticalferrule is slanted, and thus the force that bends the optical ferruleunit 1400 can be reduced.

Furthermore, with the present embodiment in the initial condition, theoptical ferrules 1301A and 1301B the mating direction of the opticalconnectors 1305 and 1306 and the mating direction of the opticalferrules 1301A and 1301B are the same, and thus the optical ferrules1301A and 1301B can easily be aligned. In contrast, if the opticalferrules 1301A and 1301B are not slanted from the beginning, the matingdirection of the optical ferrules 1301A and 1301B will not match themating direction of the optical connectors 1305 and 1306, and thereforethe aligning of the optical ferrules 1301A and 1301B will be difficult.

With the present embodiment, the center part in the left and rightdirection of the first case 1350 is supported so as to be able to tiltwith regards to the first substrate 1307 by a pin 2043 that extends inthe front and back direction, and both end parts in the left and rightdirection of the first case 1350 are elastically supported by the firstsubstrate 1307 via a coil spring. In other words, the first case 1350 issupported by the first substrate 1307 through a floating mechanism.Therefore, positional shifting can be absorbed when mating the opticalconnectors 1305 and 1306, and thus the mating operation is easy.

The effect of the aforementioned action of the optical connectors 1305and 1306 is described using conceptual diagrams. FIG. 35 and FIG. 36 arediagrams conceptually illustrating an initial mating state and a finalmating state of the optical connectors 1305 and 1306. As illustrated inFIG. 35, in the initial mating state, the mating direction of the firstoptical connector 1305 and the second optical connector 1306 matches themating direction of the first optical ferrule 1301A and the secondoptical ferrule 1301B. As illustrated in FIG. 36, in the final matingstate, the pressing member 1365 is pressed by the protruding part 1824of the body 1352, and the securement member 1304 moves in the directionof arrow A, or in other words in the perpendicular direction withregards to the mating direction of the optical connectors 1305 and 1306,together with the plate member 1363 against the spring force of theplate spring member 1364. Therefore, the optical ferrules 1301A and1301B slant relative to the mating direction of the optical connectors1305 and 1306, and the fiber ribbon 1303, or in other words the opticalfiber 1302 is deformed (bent), and thus a force that causes mutualcontact acts on the contact surfaces of the optical ferrules 1301A and1301B.

FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of FIG. 35. In FIG.37, an elastic reinforcing member 1303 a is attached to the opticalferrules 1301A and 1301B and the fiber ribbon 1303. Therefore, even ifthe optical connectors 1305 and 1306 are used for a long period of timeand the elastic force of the fiber ribbon 1303 is reduced, a stablecontact force can be maintained between the optical ferrules 1301A and1301B, and the durability of the optical connectors 1305 and 1306 can beenhanced. The cross-sectional shape of the elastic reinforcing member1303 a in this case can be a variety of shapes. For example, asemicircular curve shape is acceptable. Note that the elasticreinforcing member 1303 a can be attached to only the optical ferrule1301 or to only the fiber ribbon 1303.

FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of FIG. 36. In FIG.38, the protruding part 1824 of the body 1352 also acts as a guide pin,and thus the guide pin 1806 is omitted. The protruding part 1824 abutsthe slanted part 1934 of the plate member 1363, and moves the platemember 1363 in the direction of arrow A without using the pressingmember 1365. Furthermore, in FIG. 38, the plate member 1830 a of theoptical connector 1305 is provided so as to be able to slide, similar tooptical connector 1306, and thus a new plate spring member 1840 a isprovided. Furthermore, a protruding part 1924 similar to that of theoptical connector 1305 is provided on the body 1362 of the opticalconnector 1306. Therefore, when the optical connectors 1305 and 1306 aremated, the plate member 1363 moves in the direction of arrow A, and theplate member 1830 a moves in the direction of arrow B that is oppositethe direction of arrow A. In other words, both of the plate members movein opposite directions. In this design, the connectors 1305 and 1306 maybe identical, yet still mate to each other; that is, the connectors arehermaphroditic.

Note that in the example of FIG. 36, similar to FIG. 38, the protrudingpart 1824 extends in the longitudinal direction, and thus the guide pin1806 and the pressing member 1365 can be omitted. Furthermore, similarto FIG. 38, a configuration where the plate member 1353 can slide isalso possible.

FIG. 39 is a diagram illustrating another modified example of FIG. 36.In FIG. 39, angle members 1305 b and 1306 b are provided on the bodies1352 and 1362 of the optical connectors 1305 and 1306, and the fiberribbon 1303 extends at a predetermined angle with regards to the matingdirection of the optical connectors 1305 and 1306. Furthermore, guideparts 1305C and 1306C that prevent tilting of the optical ferrules 1301Aand 1301B are provided in the area of the optical ferrules 1301A and1301B. In other words, FIG. 39 illustrates a configuration where a bendoccurs in the fiber ribbon 1303 prior to mating. Note that in FIG. 39, aguide pin 1306 d protrudes from the optical connector 1306 side, butthis can be omitted.

FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating another modified example of FIG. 35.In FIG. 37, the securement member 1304 is secured to the inner side ofthe bodies 1352 and 1362, and the fiber ribbon 1303 extends in themating direction of the connectors 1305 and 1306 at the securement part.Guide parts 1305 e and 1306 e that movably support the optical ferrules1301A and 1301B in the mating direction of the optical connectors 1305and 1306 are provided on the bodies 1352 and 1362. The guide positionsof the optical ferrules 1301A and 1301B are shifted in a directionperpendicular to the mating direction of the connectors 1305 and 1306with regards to the securing position of the securement member, and inFIG. 40, the fiber ribbon 1303 has a slight S-shaped curve. When theoptical connector 1306 is mated to the optical connector 1305 from thisstate, the tip part (attaching part to the optical ferrules 1301A and1301B) of the optical fiber 1303 will move in the bodies 1352 and 1362along the mating direction of the connectors 1305 and 1306. Throughthis, the bend in the fiber ribbon 1303 is increased, and the abuttingforce of the optical ferrules 1301A and 1301B is increased. Note thatthe optical fiber ribbon 1303 in connector 1306 can be in an unbentstate prior to mating to the optical connector 1305. The direction ofdeformation of the fiber ribbon 1303 and the optical fiber 1302 in FIGS.36, 38, 27, and 40 is one example, but it is also possible for the bendto be in the opposite direction from that illustrated.

Note that in the above-described embodiment (FIG. 35), the opticalconnector 1306 is provided with a securement member 1304, or in otherwords a first attaching region, that holds and retains the fiber ribbon1303 as the optical waveguide, and moves in the housing of the body 1362or the like, and with an optical coupler part provided in the housing,and that moves in the housing. In other words, the optical coupler parthas a second attaching region, or in other words a V groove 1405, thatholds and retains the optical waveguide that is held and retained in thefirst attaching region, and a light direction converting surface 1522that changes the direction of the light received from the opticalwaveguide when the optical waveguide is held and retained in the firstattaching region and the second attaching region, and therefore when theconnector 6 mates with the opposing connector 1305, the first attachingregion will move, causing the optical coupler part to move. In theabove-described embodiment, the second attaching region was described asthe optical ferrule 1301, but in a more precise sense, it is the regionwhere the optical fiber 1302 is attached to the optical ferrule 1301.

The housing can have any configuration so long as when the optical waveguide is held and retained by the first attaching region and the secondattaching region, and the connector is mated to the opposing connector,the first attaching region moves causing the optical waveguide to movewhile the optical coupler part is also caused to move. The configurationof the first attaching region and the second attaching region is notrestricted to the aforementioned configuration. In the above-describedembodiment, the first attaching region is primarily moved laterally andthe optical coupler part is primarily moved rotationally (tilted) whenthe optical waveguide is held and retained in the first attaching regionand the second attaching region and the connector is mated to theopposite connector, but the movement of the first attaching region andthe second attaching region is not restricted thereto.

In the embodiment, when the optical waveguide was held and retained bythe first attaching region and the second attaching region, and theconnector was mated to the opposite connector, the first attachingregion moved along the direction orthogonal to the mating direction ofthe connector, but a portion of the first attaching region may alsomove. The optical coupler part of the above-described embodiment wasstably supported in the housing by the optical waveguide being held andretained by the first attaching region and the second attaching region,however, the optical coupler part may be stably supported in the housingdue at least to the optical waveguide being held and retained by thefirst attaching region and the second attaching region, or due only tothe optical waveguide being held and retained by the first attachingregion and the second attaching region.

The embodiments can be described from various perspectives. For example,in the example of FIG. 35, when the connector 1306 is mated to theopposing connector 1305, the first attaching region (securement member1304) and the second attaching region (optical ferrule 1301) will moveand cause the bend of the optical waveguide (fiber ribbon 1303) toincrease. In this case, the optical waveguide is not bent before theconnector 1306 is mated to the opposing connector 1305. When theconnector 1306 is mated to the opposing connector 1305, the firstattaching region moves in a direction essentially perpendicular to themating direction of the connector 1306, and the second attaching regionmoves in a direction that is essentially parallel to the matingdirection of the connector 1306.

Embodiments discussed in this disclosure include at least the followingitems:

-   Item 1. A connector comprising a housing comprising:    -   a first attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching        to an optical waveguide; and    -   a light coupling unit disposed and configured to move        translationally and not rotationally within the housing and        comprising:    -   a second attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching        to an optical waveguide received and permanently attached at the        first attachment area; and    -   a light redirecting surface configured such that when an optical        waveguide is received and permanently attached at the first and        second attachment areas, the light redirecting surface receives        and redirects light from the optical waveguide, and the optical        waveguide limits, but does not prevent, a movement of the light        coupling unit within the housing.-   Item 2. The connector of item 1, wherein the first attachment area    is fixed within the housing.-   Item 3. The connector of item 1, wherein the first attachment area    is configured to move within the housing.-   Item 4. The connector of any of items 1 through 3, wherein when an    optical waveguide is received and permanently attached at the first    and second attachment areas, a mating of the light coupling unit    with a mating light coupling unit of a mating connector causes a    bend in the optical waveguide between the first and second    attachment areas, the bend assisting in preventing the light    coupling unit from unmating from the mating light coupling unit.-   Item 5. The connector of item 4, wherein the bend comprises a    further bend in an existing bend.-   Item 6. The connector of any of claims 1 through 5, wherein when an    optical waveguide is received and permanently attached at the first    and second attachment areas, a mating of the light coupling unit    with a mating light coupling unit of a mating connector causes the    second attachment area to move within the housing causing a bend in    the optical waveguide, the bend assisting in preventing the light    coupling unit from unmating from the mating light coupling unit.-   Item 7. The connector of item 6, wherein after the mating, the    optical fiber applies a spring force to the light coupling unit to    maintain the light coupling unit in a mating position with respect    to a mating light coupling unit.-   Item 8. The connector of any of items 1 through 7, wherein the    housing further comprises at least one guide for preventing the    light coupling from rotating, but not moving translationally, within    the housing.-   Item 9. The connector of item 8, wherein the at least one guide is    disposed adjacent to and facing at least one of a top and a bottom    major surface of the light coupling unit.-   Item 10. The connector of any of items 1 through 9, wherein the    housing comprises a pair of guides, one guide of the pair of guides    on each side of the light coupling unit, the pair of guides    configured to prevent the light coupling unit from rotating, but not    translationally moving, within the housing.-   Item 11. The connector of item 10, wherein one guide of the pair of    guides is disposed adjacent to and facing a top major surface of the    light coupling unit, and another guide of the pair of guides is    disposed adjacent to and facing a bottom major surface of the light    coupling unit.-   Item 12. The connector of any of items 1 through 11, further    comprising a registration feature configured to engage with a    compatible mating feature of a mating connector.-   Item 13. The connector of item 12, wherein the registration feature    comprises an elongated protrusion and the compatible mating feature    comprises an elongated channel.-   Item 14. The connector of any of items 1 through 13, wherein the    light redirecting surface comprises a curved surface, the optical    waveguide having a first core diameter, the curved surface being    configured to change a divergence of light from the optical    waveguide such that light from the optical waveguide exits the    connector along an exit direction different than a mating direction    of the connector and having a second diameter greater than the first    core diameter.-   Item 15. The connector of any of items 1 through 14, wherein the    light coupling unit includes a first alignment feature and a second    alignment feature, during mating of the light coupling unit with a    mating light coupling unit, the first alignment feature is    configured to engage with a mating second alignment feature of the    mating light coupling unit and the second alignment feature is    configured to engage with a mating first alignment feature of the    mating light coupling unit.-   Item 16. The connector of item 15, wherein the first alignment    feature comprises a tab and the second alignment feature comprises a    guide hole.-   Item 17. The connector of item 16, wherein the guide hole comprises    a first end and a second end, during mating of the light coupling    unit and the mating light coupling unit, the first end of the guide    hole engaging with a mating tab of the mating light coupling unit    before the second end of the guide hole engages with the mating tab    of the mating light coupling unit, and wherein the first end of the    guide hole includes a taper that causes the guide hole to become    narrower with distance from the first end for at least a portion of    a length of the guide hole.-   Item 18. The connector of any of claims 1 through 17, wherein the    optical waveguide comprises a pre-bent, annealed optical waveguide.-   Item 19. The connector of any of items 1 through 18, wherein the    optical waveguide is one of a plurality of optical waveguides in an    optical fiber ribbon cable, each optical waveguide in the optical    fiber ribbon cable comprises a core, a cladding, and a coating, the    optical fiber ribbon cable comprising a jacket disposed over the    plurality of optical waveguides, wherein a spring force of the core    and cladding of the plurality of optical waveguides is in the    optical fiber ribbon cable is greater than a spring force of the the    coatings and jacket of the optical fiber ribbon cable when the    connector is mated with a mating connector.-   Item 20. A connector comprising a housing comprising:    -   a first attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching        to an optical waveguide and configured to move within the        housing; and    -   a light coupling unit disposed and configured to move within the        housing and comprising:        -   a second attachment area for receiving and permanently            attaching to an optical waveguide received and permanently            attached at the first attachment area; and        -   a light redirecting surface configured such that when an            optical waveguide is received and permanently attached at            the first and second attachment areas, the light redirecting            surface receives and redirects light from the optical            waveguide, and the optical waveguide limits, but does not            prevent, a movement of the light coupling unit within the            housing.-   Item 21. The connector of item 20, wherein the optical waveguide    limits, but does not prevent, the movement of the light coupling    unit within the housing primarily along a linear direction.-   Item 22. The connector of any of items 20 through 21, wherein the    optical waveguide limits, but does not prevent, the movement of the    light coupling unit within the housing primarily along a connector    mating direction of the connector.-   Item 23. The connector of any of items 20 through 22, wherein in the    absence of any optical waveguide received and permanently attached    at the first and second attachment areas, the light coupling unit is    unrestrained to move freely along at least one direction.-   Item 24. The connector of any of items 20 through 23, wherein in the    absence of any optical waveguide received and permanently attached    at the first and second attachment areas, the light coupling unit is    loose within the housing and free to move along at least one    direction.-   Item 25. The connector of any of items 20 through 24, wherein the    light coupling unit is stably supported within the housing, at least    in part, by virtue of an optical waveguide being received and    permanently attached at the first and second attachment areas.-   Item 26. The connector of any of items 20 through 25, wherein when    an optical waveguide is received and permanently attached at the    first and second attachment areas, the optical waveguide is    substantially unbent between the first and second attachment areas.-   Item 27. The connector of item 20, wherein when an optical waveguide    is received and permanently attached at the first and second    attachment areas, the optical waveguide is bent between the first    and second attachment areas.-   Item 28. The connector of any of items 20 through 27, wherein the    light coupling unit is configured to be so positioned and oriented    within the housing as to mate with a light coupling unit of a mating    connector as the connector mates with the mating connector, the    light coupling unit being so positioned and oriented, at least in    part, by virtue of an optical waveguide being received and    permanently attached at the first and second attachment areas.-   Item 29. The connector of any of items 20 through 28, wherein when    an optical waveguide is received and permanently attached at the    first and second attachment areas, a mating of the light coupling    unit with a mating light coupling unit of a mating connector causes    a bend in the optical waveguide between the first and second    attachment areas, the bend assisting in preventing the light    coupling unit from unmating from the mating light coupling unit.-   Item 30. The connector of item 29, wherein the bend comprises a    further bend in an existing bend.-   Item 31. The connector of item 30, wherein the existing bend    comprises an S-shaped bend.-   Item 32. The connector of any of items 20 through 31, wherein when    an optical waveguide is received and permanently attached at the    first and second attachment areas, a mating of the light coupling    unit with a mating light coupling unit of a mating connector causes    the first attachment area to move within the housing, causing a    first bend in the optical waveguide, the light coupling unit to move    within the housing, and a second bend in the optical waveguide, the    second bend assisting in preventing the light coupling unit from    unmating from the mating light coupling unit.-   Item 33. The connector of item 32, wherein the first bend comprises    a further bend in an existing bend.-   Item 34. The connector of item 32, wherein the second bend comprises    a further bend in the first bend.-   Item 35. The connector of any of items 32 through 34, wherein the    first attachment area moves in a direction substantially    perpendicular to a connector mating direction of the connector and    the light coupling unit moves substantially parallel to the    connector mating direction toward the first attachment area.-   Item 36. The connector of any of items 32 through 35 comprising a    registration feature, such that as the connector mates with a mating    connector along a mating direction, the registration feature of the    connector mates with a registration feature of the mating connector,    the registration feature of the mating connector causing the first    attachment area of the connector to move within the housing of the    connector.-   Item 37. The connector of item 36, wherein the registration feature    of the connector defines an elongated channel and the registration    feature of the mating connector comprises an elongated protrusion,    such that as the connector mates with the mating connector, the    elongated protrusion slides within the channel, a front end of the    elongated protrusion sliding past the channel and making contact    with the first attachment area, the contact causing the first    attachment area to move within the housing of the connector.-   Item 38. The connector of any of items 20 through 37, wherein the    housing further comprises at least one guide for preventing the    light coupling from rotating, but not moving translationally, within    the housing.-   Item 39. The connector of item 38, wherein the at least one guide is    disposed adjacent to and facing at least one of a top and bottom    major surfaces of the light coupling unit.-   Item 40. The connector of any of items 20 through 39, wherein the    housing comprises a pair of guides, one on each side of the light    coupling unit, for preventing the light coupling unit from rotating,    but not translationally moving, within the housing.-   Item 41. The connector of item 40, wherein one guide in the pair of    guides is disposed adjacent to and facing a top major surface of the    connector, and the other guide in the pair of guides is disposed    adjacent to and facing a bottom major surface of the light coupling    unit.-   Item 42. The connector of any of claims 20 through 41, wherein    during mating with a mating connector, the first attachment area is    configured to move in a first direction and the light coupling unit    is configured to move in a second direction different from the first    direction.-   Item 43. The connector of item 42, wherein the second direction is    along a mating direction of the connector.-   Item 44. The connector of item 43, wherein the first direction is    substantially orthogonal to the mating direction.-   Item 45. The connector of any of items 20 through 44, wherein the    first attachment feature comprises a contact surface configured to    cause movement of the first attachment feature during mating of the    connector to a mating connector as a registration feature of the    mating connector engages with the contact surface.-   Item 46. The connector of item 45, wherein the contact surface is a    ramp.-   Item 47. The connector of any of items 45 through 46, wherein the    first attachment feature includes a stop feature configured to limit    movement of the registration feature of the mating connector.-   Item 48. The connector of any of items 20 through 47, further    comprising at least one compressible element, wherein movement of    the first attachment area causes the compressible element to apply    spring force in a direction opposing a direction of movement of the    first attachment area.-   Item 49. The connector of item 48, wherein the compressible element    comprises a spring that is compressed by movement of the first    attachment area.-   Item 50. A connector comprising a housing comprising:    -   a first attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching        to an optical waveguide;    -   a second attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching        to an optical waveguide received and permanently attached at the        first attachment area; and    -   a flexible carrier disposed within the housing between the first        and second attachment areas for supporting and adhering to an        optical waveguide received and permanently attached at the first        and second attachment areas, a first end of the flexible carrier        attached to the first attachment area, a second end of the        carrier attached to the second attachment area.-   Item 51. The connector of item 50, wherein the flexible carrier is    less flexible when initially bent and more flexible when bent    further.-   Item 52. The connector of any of claims 50 through 51, wherein the    flexible carrier comprises:    -   a flexible first portion for supporting and adhering to an        optical waveguide received and permanently attached at the first        and second attachment areas; and    -   a flexible second portion attached to the flexible first portion        at one or more discrete spaced apart attachment locations.-   Item 53. The connector of item 52, wherein the one or more discrete    spaced apart attachment locations, and the flexible first and second    portions define at least one gap therebetween.-   Item 54. The connector of any of items 52 through 53, wherein when    bent along a length of the flexible carrier, the flexible first    portion is more flexible than the flexible second portion.-   Item 55. The connector of any of items 52 through 54, wherein when    unbent, the flexible first portion has a substantially planar    lateral cross-sectional profile and the flexible second portion has    a substantially non-planar lateral cross-sectional profile.-   Item 56. The connector of any of items 52 through 55, wherein as the    flexible carrier is bent along a length of the flexible carrier, a    lateral cross-sectional profile of the flexible second portion    changes from a substantially non-planar profile to a substantially    planar profile.-   Item 57. The connector of item 56, wherein the flexible second    portion is less flexible when having a substantially non-planar    lateral cross-sectional profile and more flexible when having a    substantially planar lateral cross-sectional profile.-   Item 58. The connector of item 52, wherein at least one attachment    location in the one or more discrete spaced apart attachment    locations extends along substantially an entire length of the    flexible carrier.-   Item 59. The connector of item 50, wherein the flexible carrier    comprises:    -   a flexible first portion for supporting and adhering to an        optical waveguide received and permanently attached at the first        and second attachment areas; and    -   a flexible second portion attached to the top portion, such that        as the flexible carrier is bent along a length of the flexible        carrier, the flexible second portion collapses onto the flexible        first portion.-   Item 60. The connector of item 59, wherein the flexible first    portion has a first lateral cross-sectional profile and the flexible    second portion has a different second lateral cross-sectional    profile, wherein as the flexible second portion collapses onto the    flexible first portion, the lateral cross-sectional profile of the    flexible second portion changes from the second lateral    cross-sectional profile to the first lateral cross-sectional    profile.-   Item 61. The connector of any of items 59 through 60, wherein the    flexible second portion is attached to the flexible first portion at    an attachment location, and wherein as the flexible second portion    collapses onto the flexible first portion, portions of the flexible    second portion rotate about the attachment location.-   Item 62. The connector of item 61, wherein each of the flexible    first and second portions has a substantially planar cross-sectional    profile when bent.-   Item 63. The connector of item 59, wherein the flexible second    portion comprises a first flexible bottom portion attached to the    flexible first portion at a first attachment location, and a second    flexible second portion attached to the flexible first portion at a    different second attachment location, wherein as the flexible second    portion collapses onto the flexible first portion, the first    flexible second portion rotates about the first attachment location,    and the second flexible second portion rotates about the second    attachment location.-   Item 64. The connector of item 63, wherein each of the flexible    first portion, first flexible second portion, and second flexible    second portion has a substantially planar cross-sectional profile    when bent.-   Item 65. The connector of item 50, wherein the flexible carrier    comprises:    -   a flexible first portion for supporting and adhering to an        optical waveguide received and permanently attached at the first        and second attachment areas; and    -   a flexible second portion, such that as the flexible carrier is        bent along a length of the flexible carrier, the flexible first        and second portions slide with respect to each other along the        length of the flexible carrier.-   Item 66. The connector of any of items 50 through 65, wherein when    the connector is unmated and the optical waveguide is received and    permanently attached at the first and second attachment areas, the    optical waveguide is substantially unbent between the first and    second attachment areas.-   Item 67. The connector of any of items 50 through 66, further    comprising a light coupling unit disposed and configured to move    within the housing, the light coupling unit comprising: the second    attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to the    optical waveguide received and permanently attached at the first    attachment area; and a light redirecting surface configured such    that when the optical waveguide is received and permanently attached    at the first and second attachment areas, the light redirecting    surface receives and redirects light from the optical waveguide, and    the flexible carrier and optical waveguide limit, but do not    prevent, movement of the light coupling unit within the housing.-   Item 68. The connector of item 67, wherein as the connector mates    with a mating connector, the flexible carrier is configured to flex,    to cause the optical waveguide to bend, and to cause the light    coupling unit to rotate within the connector housing.-   Item 69. The connector of item 67, wherein a mating of the light    coupling unit with a mating light coupling unit of a mating    connector causes the flexible carrier to flex and the optical    waveguide to bend between the first and second attachment areas,    after the mating, the flexible carrier and the optical waveguide    applying spring force to the light coupling unit and preventing the    light coupling unit from unmating from the mating light coupling    unit.-   Item 70. The connector of item 67, wherein after the connector mates    with a mating connector, mating surfaces of the light coupling unit    and a mating light coupling unit are disposed at an angle to a    mating direction of the connector.-   Item 71. The connector of item 67, wherein the first attachment area    is configured to move within the housing.-   Item 72. The connector of item 71, when the optical waveguide is    received and permanently attached at the first and second attachment    areas, a mating of the light coupling unit with a mating light    coupling unit of a mating connector is configured to cause:    -   the first attachment area to move within the housing;    -   the flexible carrier to flex;    -   a bend in the optical waveguide; and    -   the light coupling unit to move within the housing, wherein a        spring force is applied by the flexible carrier and the bend in        the optical waveguide to the light coupling unit, the spring        force assisting in preventing the light coupling unit from        unmating from the mating light coupling unit.-   Item 73. The connector of item 72, wherein during the mating, the    first attachment area moves in a direction substantially    perpendicular to a connector mating direction of the connector.-   Item 74. The connector of item 72, wherein during the mating, the    first attachment area is configured to move in a first direction and    the light coupling unit is configured to move in a second direction    different from the first direction.-   Item 75. The connector of item 72, wherein during the mating, the    light coupling unit rotates within the housing.-   Item 76. The connector of any of items 50 through 75, further    comprising a registration feature, such that as the connector mates    with a mating connector along a mating direction, the registration    feature of the connector mates with a mating registration feature of    the mating connector, the mating registration feature causing the    first attachment area of the connector to move within the housing of    the connector.-   Item 77. The connector of item 76, wherein the registration feature    of the connector comprises an elongated channel and the mating    registration feature of the mating connector comprises an elongated    protrusion, such that as the connector mates with the mating    connector, the elongated protrusion slides within the elongated    channel, a front end of the elongated protrusion sliding past the    channel and making contact with the first attachment area, the    contact causing the first attachment area to move within the housing    of the connector.-   Item 78. The connector of item 77, wherein during the mating, the    mating registration feature engages with a contact surface of the    first attachment area and applies a force to the contact surface    causing the first attachment area of the connector to move within    the housing of the connector.-   Item 79. The connector of item 78, wherein the contact surface is a    ramp.-   Item 80. The connector of item 78, wherein the first attachment    feature includes a stop feature configured to limit movement of the    mating registration feature of the mating connector.-   Item 81. The connector of any of claims 50 through 80, further    comprising at least one compressible element, wherein movement of    the first attachment area causes the compressible element to apply    spring force in a direction opposing a direction of movement of the    first attachment area.-   Item 82. The connector of item 81, wherein the compressible element    comprises a spring that is compressed by movement of the first    attachment area.-   Item 83. The connector of any of items 50 through 82, wherein at    least one of the first and second flexible portions comprises a    vibration dissipating material.-   Item 84. The connector of any of items 50 through 83 wherein at    least on of the first and second flexible portions comprises a    viscoelastic material for absorbing energy.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing feature sizes,amounts, and physical properties used in the specification and claimsare to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term“about.” Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numericalparameters set forth in the foregoing specification and attached claimsare approximations that can vary depending upon the desired propertiessought to be obtained by those skilled in the art utilizing theteachings disclosed herein.

As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singularforms “a,” “an,” and “the” encompass embodiments having pluralreferents, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As used inthis specification and the appended claims, the term “or” is generallyemployed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearlydictates otherwise.

Spatially related terms, including but not limited to, “lower,” “upper,”“beneath,” “below,” “above,” and “on top,” if used herein, are utilizedfor ease of description to describe spatial relationships of anelement(s) to another. Such spatially related terms encompass differentorientations of the device in use or operation in addition to theparticular orientations depicted in the figures and described herein.For example, if an object depicted in the figures is turned over orflipped over, portions previously described as below or beneath otherelements would then be above those other elements.

Unless otherwise indicated, the words “first,” “second,” “third,” areused herein for identification of various features and are not intendedto imply any particular order, position, priority, etc.

All references and publications cited herein are expressly incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety into this disclosure, except tothe extent they may directly contradict this disclosure. Althoughspecific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it willbe appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety ofalternate and/or equivalent implementations can be substituted for thespecific embodiments shown and described without departing from thescope of the present disclosure. This application is intended to coverany adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussedherein. Therefore, it is intended that this disclosure be limited onlyby the claims and the equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A connector comprising a housing comprising: afirst attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to anoptical waveguide; a second attachment area for receiving andpermanently attaching to an optical waveguide received and permanentlyattached at the first attachment area; and a flexible carrier disposedwithin the housing between the first and second attachment areas forsupporting and adhering to an optical waveguide received and permanentlyattached at the first and second attachment areas, a first end of theflexible carrier attached to the first attachment area, a second end ofthe carrier attached to the second attachment area.
 2. The connector ofclaim 1, wherein the flexible carrier is less flexible when initiallybent and more flexible when bent further.
 3. The connector of claim 1,wherein the flexible carrier comprises: a flexible first portion forsupporting and adhering to an optical waveguide received and permanentlyattached at the first and second attachment areas; and a flexible secondportion attached to the flexible first portion at one or more discretespaced apart attachment locations.
 4. The connector of claim 3, whereinthe one or more discrete spaced apart attachment locations, and theflexible first and second portions define at least one gap therebetween.5. The connector of claim 3, wherein when bent along a length of theflexible carrier, the flexible first portion is more flexible than theflexible second portion.
 6. The connector of claim 3, wherein whenunbent, the flexible first portion has a substantially planar lateralcross-sectional profile and the flexible second portion has asubstantially non-planar lateral cross-sectional profile.
 7. Theconnector of claim 3, wherein as the flexible carrier is bent along alength of the flexible carrier, a lateral cross-sectional profile of theflexible second portion changes from a substantially non-planar profileto a substantially planar profile.
 8. The connector of claim 7, whereinthe flexible second portion is less flexible when having a substantiallynon-planar lateral cross-sectional profile and more flexible when havinga substantially planar lateral cross-sectional profile.
 9. The connectorof claim 3, wherein at least one attachment location in the one or morediscrete spaced apart attachment locations extends along substantiallyan entire length of the flexible carrier.
 10. The connector of claim 1,wherein the flexible carrier comprises: a flexible first portion forsupporting and adhering to an optical waveguide received and permanentlyattached at the first and second attachment areas; and a flexible secondportion attached to the top portion, such that as the flexible carrieris bent along a length of the flexible carrier, the flexible secondportion collapses onto the flexible first portion.
 11. The connector ofclaim 10, wherein the flexible first portion has a first lateralcross-sectional profile and the flexible second portion has a differentsecond lateral cross-sectional profile, wherein as the flexible secondportion collapses onto the flexible first portion, the lateralcross-sectional profile of the flexible second portion changes from thesecond lateral cross-sectional profile to the first lateralcross-sectional profile.
 12. The connector of claim 10, wherein theflexible second portion is attached to the flexible first portion at anattachment location, and wherein as the flexible second portioncollapses onto the flexible first portion, portions of the flexiblesecond portion rotate about the attachment location.
 13. The connectorof claim 12, wherein each of the flexible first and second portions hasa substantially planar cross-sectional profile when bent.
 14. Theconnector of claim 10, wherein the flexible second portion comprises afirst flexible bottom portion attached to the flexible first portion ata first attachment location, and a second flexible second portionattached to the flexible first portion at a different second attachmentlocation, wherein as the flexible second portion collapses onto theflexible first portion, the first flexible second portion rotates aboutthe first attachment location, and the second flexible second portionrotates about the second attachment location.
 15. The connector of claim14, wherein each of the flexible first portion, first flexible secondportion, and second flexible second portion has a substantially planarcross-sectional profile when bent.
 16. The connector of claim 1, whereinthe flexible carrier comprises: a flexible first portion for supportingand adhering to an optical waveguide received and permanently attachedat the first and second attachment areas; and a flexible second portion,such that as the flexible carrier is bent along a length of the flexiblecarrier, the flexible first and second portions slide with respect toeach other along the length of the flexible carrier.
 17. The connectorof claim 1, wherein when the connector is unmated and the opticalwaveguide is received and permanently attached at the first and secondattachment areas, the optical waveguide is substantially unbent betweenthe first and second attachment areas.
 18. The connector of claim 1,further comprising a light coupling unit disposed and configured to movewithin the housing, the light coupling unit comprising: the secondattachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to the opticalwaveguide received and permanently attached at the first attachmentarea; and a light redirecting surface configured such that when theoptical waveguide is received and permanently attached at the first andsecond attachment areas, the light redirecting surface receives andredirects light from the optical waveguide, and the flexible carrier andoptical waveguide limit, but do not prevent, movement of the lightcoupling unit within the housing.
 19. The connector of claim 18, whereinas the connector mates with a mating connector, the flexible carrier isconfigured to flex, to cause the optical waveguide to bend, and to causethe light coupling unit to rotate within the connector housing.
 20. Theconnector of claim 18, wherein a mating of the light coupling unit witha mating light coupling unit of a mating connector causes the flexiblecarrier to flex and the optical waveguide to bend between the first andsecond attachment areas, after the mating, the flexible carrier and theoptical waveguide applying spring force to the light coupling unit andpreventing the light coupling unit from unmating from the mating lightcoupling unit.
 21. The connector of claim 18, wherein after theconnector mates with a mating connector, mating surfaces of the lightcoupling unit and a mating light coupling unit are disposed at an angleto a mating direction of the connector.
 22. The connector of claim 18,wherein the first attachment area is configured to move within thehousing.
 23. The connector of claim 22, when the optical waveguide isreceived and permanently attached at the first and second attachmentareas, a mating of the light coupling unit with a mating light couplingunit of a mating connector is configured to cause: the first attachmentarea to move within the housing; the flexible carrier to flex; a bend inthe optical waveguide; and the light coupling unit to move within thehousing, wherein a spring force is applied by the flexible carrier andthe bend in the optical waveguide to the light coupling unit, the springforce assisting in preventing the light coupling unit from unmating fromthe mating light coupling unit.
 24. The connector of claim 23, whereinduring the mating, the first attachment area moves in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to a connector mating direction of theconnector.
 25. The connector of claim 23, wherein during the mating, thefirst attachment area is configured to move in a first direction and thelight coupling unit is configured to move in a second directiondifferent from the first direction.
 26. The connector of claim 23,wherein during the mating, the light coupling unit rotates within thehousing.
 27. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a registrationfeature, such that as the connector mates with a mating connector alonga mating direction, the registration feature of the connector mates witha mating registration feature of the mating connector, the matingregistration feature causing the first attachment area of the connectorto move within the housing of the connector.
 28. The connector of claim27, wherein the registration feature of the connector comprises anelongated channel and the mating registration feature of the matingconnector comprises an elongated protrusion, such that as the connectormates with the mating connector, the elongated protrusion slides withinthe elongated channel, a front end of the elongated protrusion slidingpast the channel and making contact with the first attachment area, thecontact causing the first attachment area to move within the housing ofthe connector.
 29. The connector of claim 28, wherein during the mating,the mating registration feature engages with a contact surface of thefirst attachment area and applies a force to the contact surface causingthe first attachment area of the connector to move within the housing ofthe connector.
 30. The connector of claim 29, wherein the contactsurface is a ramp.
 31. The connector of claim 30, wherein the firstattachment feature includes a stop feature configured to limit movementof the mating registration feature of the mating connector.
 32. Theconnector of claim 1, further comprising at least one compressibleelement, wherein movement of the first attachment area causes thecompressible element to apply spring force in a direction opposing adirection of movement of the first attachment area.
 33. The connector ofclaim 32, wherein the compressible element comprises a spring that iscompressed by movement of the first attachment area.
 34. The connectorof claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second flexibleportions comprises a vibration dissipating material.
 35. The connectorof claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second flexibleportions comprises a viscoelastic material.